Brand & Generic Names

Basic Information

• Habit forming? Yes
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? No
• Drug class: Narcotic, analgesic

Uses

• Reduxes anxiety or nervous tension (low dose).
• Reduces pain, fever, inflammation.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet or capsule--Swallow with liquid or food to lessen stomach irritation. If you can't swallow whole, crumble tablet or open capsule and take with liquid or food.
Extended-release tablets or capsules--Swallow each dose whole.

When to take:
When needed. No more often than every 4 hours.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember. Wait 4 hours for next dose.

What drug does:
May partially block nerve impulses at nerve-cell connections.
Affects hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates temperature by dilating small blood vessels in skin.
Prevents clumping of platelets (small blood cells) so blood vessels remain open.
Decreases prostaglandin effect.
Blocks pain messages to brain and spinal cord.
Reduces sensitivity of brain's cough-control center.

Time lapse before drug works:
30 minutes.

Don't take with:
Non-prescription drugs without consulting doctor.
See interactions section (below) and consult doctor.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Deep sleep, slow and weak pulse, ringing in ears, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fever, deep and rapid breathing, hallucinations, convulsions, coma.

WHAT TO DO:

• Dial 911 (emergency) or 0 (operator) for an ambulance or medical help. Then give first aid immediately.
• If patient is unconscious and not breathing, give mouth-to-mouth breathing. If there is no heartbeat, use cardiac massage and mouth-to-mouth breathing (CPR). Don't try to make patient vomit. If you can't get help quickly, take patient to nearest emergency facility.
• See EMERGENCY information.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

Wheezing, tightness Seek emergency treatment immediately. in chest, pinpoint pupils.

Common:

Dizziness, drowsiness, heartburn, flushed face, depression, false sense of well-being, increased urination.

Infrequent:

Jaundice; vomiting blood; easy bruising; skin rash, hives; confusion; depression; sore throat, fever, mouth sores; difficult urination; hearing loss; slurred speech; blood in urine; decreased vision.

Rare:

Insomnia, nightmares, constipation, headache, nervousness, flushed face, increased sweating, unusual tiredness.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:

• You are allergic to any barbiturate or narcotic.
• You have a peptic ulcer or stomach or duodenum, bleeding disorder, porphyria.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have had stomach or duodenal ulcers.
• If you have asthma, epilepsy, kidney or liver damage, anemia, chronic pain, gout.
• If you will have surgery within 2 months, including dental surgery, requiring general or spinal anesthesia.

Over age 60:

• Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and severe than in younger persons.
• More likely to cause hidden bleeding in stomach or intestines. Watch for dark stools.
• More likely to be drowsy, dizzy, unsteady or constipated. Use only if absolutely necessary.

Pregnancy:
Risk to unborn child outweighs drug benefits. Don't use.

Breast-feeding:
Drug passes into milk. Avoid drug or discontinue nursing until you finish medicine. Consult doctor for advice on maintaining milk supply.

Infants & children:

• Overdose frequent and severe. Keep bottles out of children's reach.
• Use only under doctor's supervision.
• Consult doctor before giving to persons under age 18 who have fever and discomfort of viral illness, especially chicken pox and influenza. Probably increases risk of Reye's syndrome.

Prolonged use:

• Kidney damage. Periodic kidney function test recommended.
• May cause addiction, anemia, chronic intoxication.
• May lower body temperature, making exposure to cold temperatures hazardous.

Skin & sunlight:
May cause rash or intensify sunburn in areas exposed to sun or sunlamp.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
Don't drive or pilot aircraft until you learn how medicine affects you. Don't drive around dangerous machinery. Don't climb ladders or work in high places. Danger increases if you drink alcohol or take medicine affecting alertness and reflexes, such as antihistamines, tranquilizers, sedatives, pain medicine, narcotics and mind-altering drugs.

Discontinuing:
May be unnecessary to finish medicine. Follow doctor's instructions. If you develop withdrawal symptoms of hallucinations, agitation or sleeplessness after discontinuing, call doctor right away.

Others:

• Aspirin can complicate surgery; illness; pregnancy, labor and delivery.
• For arthritis--Don't change dose without consulting doctor.
• Urine tests for blood sugar may be inaccurate.
• Great potential for abuse.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

Possible Interaction with Other Substances