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- $Unique_ID{BRK03030}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{aspirin and codeine combination}
- $Subject{ Empirin Burroughs Wellcome Analgesic combination aspirin codeine
- tension headaches pain narcotic analgesic central nervous system}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{
- Empirin with Codeine #2*0303001.scf}
-
- Copyright (C) 1993 Publications International, Ltd.
-
-
- aspirin and codeine combination
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- BRAND NAME (Manufacturer)
-
- aspirin with codeine (various manufacturers)
- Empirin with Codeine (Burroughs Wellcome)
-
- TYPE OF DRUG
-
- Analgesic combination
-
- INGREDIENTS
-
- aspirin and codeine
-
- DOSAGE FORM
-
- Tablets (325 mg aspirin with 15 mg, 30 mg, or 60 mg of codeine)
- Note that on the label of the vial of tablets, the name of this drug is
- followed by a number. This number refers to the amount of codeine: #2
- contains 1/4 grain (15 mg) codeine, #3 has 1/2 grain (30 mg) codeine, and #4
- contains 1 grain (60 mg) codeine.
-
- STORAGE
-
- Aspirin and codeine combination tablets should be stored at room
- temperature in a tightly closed container. Care should be taken to prevent
- moisture from entering the container, as it will cause the aspirin in this
- product to decompose. Discard the medicine if it has a vinegary odor.
-
- USES
-
- This medication is used to relieve tension headaches and mild to severe
- pain. Codeine is a narcotic analgesic that acts on the central nervous system
- to relieve pain.
-
- TREATMENT
-
- In order to avoid stomach upset, you can take this medication with food
- or milk.
- This medication works best if you take it at the onset of pain, rather
- than when the pain becomes intense.
- If you are taking this medication on a regular schedule and you miss a
- dose, take the missed dose as soon as possible, unless it is almost time for
- your next dose. In that case, don't take the missed dose at all; just return
- to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double the next dose.
-
- SIDE EFFECTS
-
- Minor.
-
- Constipation, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, false sense of
- well-being, flushing, indigestion, light-headedness, loss of appetite, nausea,
- sweating, and vomiting. 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), drink more
- water, and exercise (unless your doctor directs you to do otherwise).
- Chew sugarless gum or suck on ice chips or a piece of hard candy to
- reduce mouth dryness.
- If you feel dizzy or light-headed, sit or lie down for a while; get up
- from a sitting or lying position slowly, and be careful on stairs.
-
- Major.
-
- Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
- particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
- severe abdominal pain; bloody or black, tarry stools; chest tightness;
- difficult or painful urination; difficulty in breathing; fatigue; itching;
- palpitations; rash; ringing in the ears; tremors; or yellowing of the eyes or
- skin.
-
- INTERACTIONS
-
- This medication interacts with several other types of drugs:
- 1. Concurrent use of it with other central nervous system depressants
- (such as alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepine tranquilizers,
- muscle relaxants, and phenothiazine tranquilizers) or with tricyclic
- antidepressants can cause extreme drowsiness.
- 2. The concurrent use of aspirin and codeine combination and monoamine
- oxidase (MAO) inhibitors should be avoided. At least 14 days should separate
- the use of aspirin and codeine combination and the use of an MAO inhibitor.
- 3. Alcohol and anti-inflammatory medication can increase the
- gastrointestinal side effects of this medication.
- 4. The side effects of anticoagulants (blood thinners, such as warfarin),
- oral antidiabetic agents, phenytoin, and methotrexate may be increased by the
- aspirin in this product.
- 5. Large doses of antacids increase the elimination of the aspirin
- portion of this medication from the body and decrease its effectiveness.
- 6. Aspirin may decrease the antigout effects of probenecid and
- sulfinpyrazone.
- BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are currently
- taking, especially any listed above.
-
- WARNINGS
-
- * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
- medications, especially to aspirin, methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen),
- diclofenac, diflunisal, flurbiprofen, fenoprofen, ibuprofen, indomethacin,
- ketoprofen, meclofenamate, mefenamic acid, naproxen, piroxicam, sulindac, and
- tolmetin or to codeine or other narcotic analgesics (such as hydrocodone,
- hydromorphone, meperidine, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, and propoxyphene).
- * Tell your doctor if you now have or if you have ever had abdominal
- disease, Addison's disease, bleeding or blood disorders, brain disease,
- colitis, epilepsy, gallstones or gallbladder disease, head injuries, heart
- disease, hemophilia, kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease, peptic
- ulcers, porphyria, enlarged prostate gland, or thyroid disease.
- * If this drug makes you dizzy or drowsy, do not take part in any
- activity that requires alertness, such as driving a car or operating
- potentially dangerous equipment.
- * Before having surgery or any other medical or dental treatment, be sure
- to tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.
- Aspirin-containing medication is usually discontinued five to seven days
- before surgery, to prevent bleeding complications.
- * The use of aspirin in children (about 16 years of age or less) in an
- attempt to treat 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 with signs of infection.
- * Because this drug contains codeine, it has the potential for abuse and
- must be used with caution. Usually, it should not be taken on a regular
- schedule for longer than ten days at a time. Tolerance develops quickly; do
- not increase the dosage or stop taking the drug abruptly, unless you first
- consult your doctor. If you have been taking large amounts of this medication
- for long periods, you may experience a withdrawal reaction (muscle aches,
- diarrhea, gooseflesh, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, shivering, trembling,
- stomach cramps, sleep disorders, irritability, weakness, excessive yawning, or
- sweating). Your doctor may, therefore, want to reduce the dosage gradually.
- * 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.
- * Diabetic patients should be aware that large doses of aspirin (more
- than eight 325-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. The effects of this
- medication during pregnancy have not been thoroughly studied in humans.
- Codeine, used regularly in large doses during pregnancy, may result in
- addiction of the fetus, leading to withdrawal symptoms (irritability,
- excessive crying, tremors, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, sneezing, or excessive
- yawning) at birth. Large amounts of aspirin taken close to the end of
- pregnancy may prolong labor and cause bleeding problems in the mother and
- heart problems in the newborn infant. Also, tell your doctor if you are
- breast-feeding an infant. Small amounts of this medication may pass into
- breast milk and cause excessive drowsiness in the nursing infant.
-
- ----------------
-
- 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.
-