$Unique_ID{BRK03261} $Pretitle{} $Title{orphenadrine, aspirin, and caffeine combination} $Subject{Norgesic Riker Forte Orphengesic Muscle relaxant analgesic orphenadrine aspirin caffeine relax muscles pain sprains strains muscle injuries central nervous system brain spinal cord depressant reflexes stimulant constricting blood vessels headaches} $Volume{} $Log{ Norgesic*0326101.scf Norgesic Forte*0326102.scf} Copyright (C) 1993 Publications International, Ltd. orphenadrine, aspirin, and caffeine combination ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers) Norgesic (Riker) Norgesic Forte (Riker) Orphengesic (various manufacturers) TYPE OF DRUG Muscle relaxant and analgesic INGREDIENTs orphenadrine, aspirin, and caffeine DOSAGE FORM Tablets (25 mg orphenadrine, 385 mg aspirin, and 30 mg caffeine {Norgesic}; 50 mg orphenadrine, 770 mg aspirin, and 60 mg caffeine {Norgesic Forte}) STORAGE This medication should be stored at room temperature in a tightly closed, light-resistant container. USES Orphenadrine, aspirin, and caffeine combination drug is used to relax muscles and to relieve the pain of sprains, strains, and other muscle injuries. Orphenadrine acts as a central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) depressant, which blocks reflexes involved in producing and maintaining muscle spasms. It does not act directly on tense muscles. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that acts by constricting the blood vessels in the head. This may help relieve headaches. TREATMENT These tablets should be taken with a full glass of water. To avoid stomach irritation, you can also take this medication with food or milk (unless your doctor directs otherwise). If you miss a dose of this medication and remember within an hour, take the missed dose and then return to your regular dosing schedule. If it has been longer than an hour, do not take the missed dose at all; just return to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double the next dose. SIDE EFFECTS Minor. Blurred vision, confusion, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, headache, indigestion, insomnia, nausea, nervousness, vomiting, or weakness. These side effects should disappear as your body adjusts to the medication. If you are constipated, increase the amount of fiber in your diet (fresh fruits and vegetables, salads, bran, and whole-grain breads), exercise, and drink more water (unless your doctor directs you to do otherwise). If you feel dizzy or light-headed, sit or lie down for a while; get up slowly from a sitting or reclining position, and be careful on stairs. To relieve mouth dryness, suck on ice chips or a piece of hard candy or chew sugarless gum. Major. Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about bloody or black, tarry stools; chest tightness; difficulty in breathing; difficulty in urinating; hearing loss; palpitations; rash; ringing in the ears; or severe abdominal pain. INTERACTIONS This medication interacts with several other types of drugs: 1. Orphenadrine can cause extreme drowsiness when combined with other central nervous system depressants (such as alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepine tranquilizers, phenothiazine tranquilizers, narcotics, and sleeping medications) or with tricyclic antidepressants. 2. Orphenadrine can cause confusion, anxiety, and tremors when combined with propoxyphene. 3. Aspirin can increase the active blood levels of methotrexate, oral antidiabetic agents, and oral anticoagulants (blood thinners, such as warfarin), which can lead to an increase in side effects. 4. The antigout activity of probenecid and sulfinpyrazone are decreased by aspirin. 5. The gastrointestinal side effects of anti-inflammatory medications may be increased by aspirin. BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are currently taking, especially those listed above. WARNINGS * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to any drugs, especially to orphenadrine, caffeine, aspirin, other salicylates, methyl salicylate, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (such as diclofenac, diflunisal, fenoprofen, flurbiprofen, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, meclofenamate, naproxen, oxyphenbutazone, phenylbutazone, piroxicam, sulindac, and tolmetin). * Tell your doctor if you now have or if you have ever had anemia, bladder obstruction, glaucoma, gout, kidney disease, liver disease, myasthenia gravis, peptic ulcers, enlarged prostate gland, intestinal obstruction, or bleeding problems. * This medication should not be taken as a substitute for rest, physical therapy, or other measures recommended by your doctor to treat your condition. * If this medication makes you dizzy or drowsy or blurs your vision, do not take part in any activity that requires alertness, such as driving a car or operating potentially dangerous machinery, while you are taking it. * Before having surgery or other medical or dental treatment, tell your doctor or dentist about this drug. Treatment with aspirin-containing drugs is usually discontinued several days before any major surgery, to prevent bleeding complications. * Because this product contains aspirin, additional medications that contain aspirin should not be taken without your doctor's approval. Check the labels on over-the-counter (nonprescription) pain, sinus, allergy, asthma, cough, and cold products to see if they contain aspirin. * The use of aspirin in children (about 16 years of age or less) with the flu or chicken pox has been associated with a rare, life-threatening condition called Reye's syndrome. Aspirin-containing products should, therefore, not be given to children who are exhibiting signs of infection. * Diabetic patients should be aware that large doses of aspirin (more than six 385-mg tablets or three 770-mg tablets per day) may interfere with urine sugar testing. Diabetics should, therefore, check with their doctor before changing their insulin dose. * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Aspirin can prolong labor if it is taken by the mother close to term and can cause heart problems in newborn infants. Also, tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding an infant. It is not known whether orphenadrine passes into breast milk, but small quantities of aspirin and caffeine are able to pass into breast milk. ---------------- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.