Aspirin/caffeine (By mouth)

Introduction

Aspirin (AS-pir-in), Caffeine (KAF-een)

Treats headache, minor pain, and body aches with drowsiness or tiredness. Also treats the symptoms of a hangover caused by drinking alcohol.

Brand Name(s)

Alka-Seltzer Morning Relief, Stanback Headache, BC, BC Arthritis, Ohmni-Cen

There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to aspirin or caffeine. You should not use this medicine during the last 3 months of pregnancy. This medicine should not be given to children or teenagers with fever, chickenpox, or symptoms of the flu or viral infection. Aspirin can cause a serious disease called Reye's syndrome in children or teenagers. You should not use this medicine if you have an active stomach ulcer or any kind of bleeding problem.

How to Use This Medicine

Tablet, Powder, Fizzy Tablet

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• If you are using this medicine without a prescription, follow the instructions on the medicine label.
• If you are using the effervescent tablet form of this medicine, dissolve the tablets fully in 4 ounces of water. Drink all of this mixture right away.
• It is best to take this medicine with food or milk.

If a dose is missed:

• If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• If this medicine has a strong vinegar smell, throw it away and do not use it.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using enalapril (Vasotec®), verapamil (Calan®, Covera®), lisinopril (Prinivil®, Zestril®). Tell your doctor if you use ramipril (Altace®), quinapril (Accupril®), sulfinpyrazone (Anturane®), ginkgo biloba, a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin®), or anisindione (Miradon®).
• Tell your doctor if you have received medicine to treat a blood clot such as urokinase (Abbokinase®), streptokinase (Streptase®), or alteplase (Activase®).
• Avoid foods, drinks, or other medicines that contain caffeine or stimulants, including diet pills. If you take them together with this medicine, you may get too much caffeine and have unwanted side effects.
• Avoid using other pain or arthritis medicine such as ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®), ketoprofen (Orudis®), indomethacin (Indocin®), Celebrex®, Daypro®, or Relafen® while you are using aspirin/caffeine.
• Make sure that none of the other medicines you are using also contain aspirin.
• Aspirin can cause stomach bleeding. Drinking alcohol can make this worse. If you have 3 or more drinks of alcohol every day, ask your doctor if you should use this medicine. One drink of alcohol is the same as 4 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, or 1 ounce of hard liquor (gin, whiskey, and others).

Warnings While Using This Medicine

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breast feeding, or if you have asthma, gout, or diabetes. Tell your doctor if you have liver disease, a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia, or a stomach disorder such as an ulcer, heartburn, or GERD (reflux disease).
• The effervescent tablet form of this medicine contains sodium and phenylalanine. Before using an effervescent tablet, tell your doctor if you are on a salt-restricted diet, or if you have phenylketonuria.
• Tell your doctor if you have had a fever for more than 3 days, a sore throat for more than 2 days, or pain for more than 10 days.
• Aspirin may cause incorrect results with some urine sugar tests.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Bloody or black, tarry stools.
• Bloody vomit or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.
• Fever, chills, lightheadedness, fainting.
• Dark urine, yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.
• Pain that lasts longer than 10 days.
• Pale skin, unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness.
• Redness or swelling.
• Severe stomach pain.
• Ringing in your ears that won't stop, confusion, stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle movements you cannot control.
• Worsening pain or new symptoms.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Feeling restless or jittery.
• Mild stomach pain, nausea, heartburn.
• Slight ringing in your ears, problems with hearing.
• Trouble sleeping.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088