Excedrin Geltab Information - Drugs and Treatments

What is acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine?

Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and a fever reducer.

Aspirin is in a group of drugs called salicylates (sa-LIS-il-ates). It works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain, fever, and inflammation.

Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. It relaxes muscle contractions in blood vessels to improve blood flow.

The combination of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine is used to treat pain caused by tension headaches, migraine headaches, muscle aches, menstrual cramps, arthritis, toothaches, the common cold, or nasal congestion.

Aspirin should be used for cardiovascular conditions only under the supervision of a doctor.

Acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine?

Aspirin should not be given to a child or teenager who has a fever, especially if the child also has flu symptoms or chicken pox.

Aspirin can cause a serious and sometimes fatal condition called Reye's syndrome in children.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, or caffeine, or if you have:

a recent history of stomach or intestinal bleeding;
liver disease;
asthma or severe allergic reaction caused by taking aspirin or an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), especially "aspirin triad syndrome"; or
if you are allergic to an NSAID such as Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Orudis, Indocin, Lodine, Voltaren, Toradol, Mobic, Relafen, Feldene, and others.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist about using acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine if you have:

asthma or seasonal allergies;
fever with a stiff neck;
a stomach ulcer, heartburn, or stomach pain;
a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia;
diabetes; or
gout.

If you take acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine to treat headache pain, seek medical attention if you have:

a headache so bad you have to lie down;
a headache that causes vomiting;
what feels like the worst headache you've ever had;
a headache that seems different from your usual headaches;
a headache every day;
a headache after coughing, bending, exercising, or head injury;
if you have never had migraines diagnosed by a doctor; or
if you are having your first headache after age 50.

Aspirin may be harmful to an unborn baby's heart, and may also reduce birth weight or have other dangerous effects. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while you are taking acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine.

Aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine?

Use this medication exactly as directed on the label, or as it has been prescribed by your doctor. Do not use the medication in larger or smaller amounts, or use it for longer than recommended.

Do not use more of this medication than is recommended. An overdose of acetaminophen can cause serious harm. The maximum amount for adults is 1 gram (1000 mg) per dose and 4 grams (4000 mg) per day. Using more acetaminophen could cause damage to your liver.

If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day, talk to your doctor before taking acetaminophen and never use more than 2 grams (2000 mg) per day.

Take this medication with a full glass of water.

Take the medicine with food or milk if it makes your stomach upset.

Stop using acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine and call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse while taking this medication.

Acetaminophen can cause false results with some urine glucose tests. Talk to your doctor if you are diabetic and you notice changes in your glucose levels while taking this medication.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking aspirin. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Store acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine at room temperature away from heat and moisture.

What happens if I miss a dose of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine?

Since this medication is often used only when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are using the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose.

Do not

use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Where can I get more information about acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine?

Your pharmacist has information about acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine written for health professionals that you may read.

What is the most important information I should know about acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine?

Aspirin should not be given to a child or teenager who has a fever, especially if the child also has flu symptoms or chicken pox.

Aspirin can cause a serious and sometimes fatal condition called Reye's syndrome in children.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, or caffeine, or if you have liver disease, stomach or intestinal bleeding, a history of asthma or severe allergic reaction to aspirin or an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug).

Do not use this medication without first talking to your doctor if you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day or if you have had alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis). You may not be able to use acetaminophen.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist about using acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine if you have asthma or seasonal allergies, fever with a stiff neck, a stomach ulcer or pain, heartburn, a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, diabetes, or gout.

Do not use more of this medication than is recommended. An overdose of acetaminophen can cause serious harm. The maximum amount of acetaminophen for adults is 1 gram (1000 mg) per dose and 4 grams (4000 mg) per day.

Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any symptoms of liver damage or bleeding in your stomach or intestines. Symptoms of liver damage include nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Symptoms of stomach bleeding include weakness or fainting, bloody or tarry stools, and coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking this medication. Alcohol may increase your risk of stomach bleeding while taking aspirin, or liver damage while taking acetaminophen.

Do not use any other over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, pain, menstrual symptom, or fever medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as "APAP"), aspirin, and caffeine are contained in many combination medicines. If you use certain products together you may accidentally use too much of a certain drug.

What should I avoid while taking acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine?

Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking this medication. Alcohol may increase your risk of stomach bleeding while taking aspirin, or liver damage while taking acetaminophen.

Do not use any other cough, cold, allergy, pain, menstrual symptom, or fever medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as "APAP"), aspirin, and caffeine are contained in many combination medicines. If you use certain products together you may accidentally use too much of a certain drug. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains acetaminophen, APAP, aspirin, or caffeine.

Avoid taking an NSAID such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Voltaren), diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), ketorolac (Toradol), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), and others.

Avoid coffee, tea, cola, energy drinks or other sources of caffeine while taking this medication. They can add to the side effects of the caffeine in the medication.

What other drugs will affect acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine?

Tell your doctor if you are taking an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or venlafaxine (Effexor). Taking any of these drugs with aspirin may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.

Before taking acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
salicylates such as aspirin, Backache Relief Extra Strength, Novasal, Nuprin Backache Caplet, Doan's Pills Extra Strength, Tricosal, and others; or
medication used to prevent blood clots, such as alteplase (Activase), anistreplase (Eminase), clopidogrel (Plavix), dipyridamole (Persantine), streptokinase (Kabikinase, Streptase), ticlopidine (Ticlid), and urokinase (Abbokinase).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.



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Excedrin Geltab

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What is acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine?