Acetaminophen and Salicylates (Systemic)

Proper Use of This Medicine

Take this medicine with food or a full glass (8 ounces) of water to lessen the chance of stomach upset.

Unless otherwise directed by your doctor:

• Do not take more of this medicine than directed on the package label . Taking too much acetaminophen may cause liver damage or lead to other medical problems because of an overdose. Also, taking too much aspirin can cause stomach problems or lead to other medical problems because of an overdose.
• Children up to 12 years of age should not take this medicine more often than five times a day .

Check with your doctor before taking one of these combination medicines to treat severe or chronic inflammation or arthritis (rheumatism) . These combination medicines may not relieve the severe pain, redness, swelling, or stiffness caused by these conditions unless very large amounts are taken for a long time. It is best not to take acetaminophen and salicylate combination medicines in large amounts for a long time unless you are under a doctor's care.

If a combination medicine containing aspirin has a strong vinegar-like odor, do not use it . This odor means the medicine is breaking down. If you have any questions about this, check with your pharmacist.

Dosing - The dose of acetaminophen and salicylate combination medicines will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of these combination medicines. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of capsules, tablets (including caplets), or packets of oral powders that you take depends on the total amount of acetaminophen and salicylate (aspirin and/or salicylamide) in one capsule, tablet, or packet of oral powder. Also, the number of doses you take each day and the time allowed between doses depend on the strength of the medicine.

• For oral (capsules or tablets [including caplets]) dosage forms:
  • For pain, fever, or mild arthritis symptoms:
    • Adults and teenagers - The usual dose is 1 or 2 capsules or tablets every three, four, or six hours, depending on the strength of the product. Do not take any of these combination medicines for more than ten days, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
    • Children - Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For migraine headaches:
    • Adults and teenagers - The usual dose is 2 tablets (250 mg acetaminophen, and 250 mg of aspirin, and 65 mg of caffeine in combination) every six hours as necessary for relief from migraine headaches. Do not take for relief of migraine headache for more than two days, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
    • Children - Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
• For oral (powder) dosage form:
  • For pain, fever, or mild arthritis symptoms:
    • Adults and teenagers - This medicine is very strong. Each packet of powder contains 260 mg of acetaminophen and 520 mg of aspirin (a total of 780 mg of both medicines). The usual dose is one packet of powder every four to six hours. Do not take this medicine for more than ten days, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
    • Children - The oral powder dosage form is too strong to use in children 12 years of age or younger.

Storage - To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children. Overdose of the salicylates in these combination medicines is very dangerous in young children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store tablets (including caplets), capsules, or powders in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.