Analgesic combination, acetaminophen/salicylate (Oral)

Class Name: analgesic combination, acetaminophen/salicylate (Oral route)

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Anacin Aspirin Free
• Apra
• Arthritis Pain Relief
• Backprin
• Be-Flex Plus
• By-Ache
• Cafgesic Forte
• Cetafen
• Children's Mapap
• Children's Nortemp
• Combiflex
• Comtrex Sore Throat Relief
• Dolono
• Durabac
• Durabac Forte
• Febrol
• Genaced
• Genapap
• Genebs
• Goody's Fast Pain Relief
• Infantaire
• Levacet
• Mapap
• Mapap Arthritis Pain
• Pain-Eze +/Rheu-Thritis
• Pyrecot
• Pyregesic
• Q-Pap
• Redutemp
• Silapap
• T-Painol
• Tycolene
• Tylenol

Available Dosage Forms:

• Tablet
• Packet

Uses for this Medicine

Acetaminophen and salicylate combination medicines relieve pain and reduce fever. They may be used to relieve occasional pain caused by mild inflammation or arthritis (rheumatism). The acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine combination also may be used to relieve pain associated with migraine headaches.

Neither acetaminophen nor salicylamide is as effective as aspirin for treating chronic or severe pain, or other symptoms, caused by inflammation or arthritis. Some of these combination medicines do not contain any aspirin. Even those that do contain aspirin may not contain enough to be effective in treating these conditions.

A few reports have suggested that acetaminophen and salicylates used together may cause kidney damage or cancer of the kidney or urinary bladder. This may occur if large amounts of both medicines are taken together for a very long time. However, taking usual amounts of these combination medicines for a short time has not been shown to cause these unwanted effects. Also, these effects are not likely to occur with either acetaminophen or a salicylate used alone, even if large amounts have been taken for a long time. Therefore, for long-term use, it may be best to use either acetaminophen or a salicylate, but not both, unless you are under a doctor's care.

Before giving any of these combination medicines to a child, check the package label very carefully. Some of these medicines are too strong for use in children. If you are not certain whether a specific product can be given to a child, or if you have any questions about the amount to give, check with your health care professional.

These medicines are available without a prescription. However, your doctor may have special instructions on the proper dose of these medicines for your medical condition.

Before using this Medicine

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to medicines in this group or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

• For acetaminophen: Acetaminophen has been tested in children and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.
• For aspirin and for salicylamide: Do not give a medicine containing aspirin or salicylamide to a child with symptoms of a virus infection, especially flu or chickenpox, without first discussing its use with y...