Aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine on Yahoo! Health

What is the most important information I should know about aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to aspirin, carisoprodol, or codeine, or if you have porphyria or a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have seizures, a stomach ulcer, liver or kidney disease, asthma, gout, diabetes, a thyroid disorder, Addison's disease, urination problems, mental illness, or a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

This medication 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.

Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any symptoms of bleeding in your stomach or intestines. Symptoms include black, bloody, or tarry stools, and coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Codeine may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine should never be given to another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medication. Dangerous side effects or death can occur when alcohol is combined with a narcotic pain medicine. Alcohol may also increase your risk of stomach bleeding while taking aspirin.

Never take more than your prescribed dose of codeine. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.

This medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

What is aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine?

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

Carisoprodol is a muscle relaxer that works by blocking pain sensations between the nerves and the brain.

Codeine is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain medicines.

The combination of aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine is used together with rest and physical therapy to treat pain, muscle spasm, and other symptoms related to injuries and other painful muscular conditions.

Aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to aspirin, carisoprodol, or codeine, or if you have certain conditions. Be sure your doctor knows if you have:

porphyria; or
a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, such as hemophilia.

Before taking aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

kidney disease;
liver disease;
asthma or other breathing disorder;
a history of stomach ulcer;
epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
gout;
diabetes;
underactive thyroid;
Addison's disease;
enlarged prostate, urination problems;
mental illness; or
a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Codeine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. The use of codeine by some nursing mothers may lead to life-threatening side effects in the baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine to a child without the advice of a doctor.

How should I take aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine?

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Never take more than your prescribed dose of codeine. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.

Take this medicine with a full glass of water.

Store aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the bottle tightly closed.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine is sometimes taken only when needed for pain, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of this medication can be fatal.

Overdose symptoms may include weak or shallow breathing, rapid breathing, ringing in your ears, muffled hearing, headache, confusion, extreme weakness or dizziness, blurred vision, sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, severe skin rash, black or bloody stools, or feeling like you might pass out.

What should I avoid while taking aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine?

Avoid using antacids without your doctor's advice. Use only the specific type of antacid your doctor recommends. Antacids contain different medicines and some types can make it harder for your body to absorb aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine.

This medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

What are the possible side effects of aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

loss of feeling in your arms or legs;
loss of balance or coordination;
vision loss;
feeling irritable, agitated, or confused;
tremors;
ringing in your ears;
runny nose, wheezing, trouble breathing;
fever, weakness, fainting;
black, bloody, or tarry stools;
coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds; or
fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash.

Less serious side effects may include:

drowsiness, dizziness, spinning sensation;
headache;
depressed mood;
nausea, vomiting, hiccups, or upset stomach;
diarrhea, constipation;
mild itching or skin rash;
blurred vision; or
warmth, redness, or tingly feeling in your face.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine?

Many drugs can interact with the aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:

a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall);
ammonium chloride, or other medicines that increase urine acidity;
gout medication such as probenecid (Benemid) or sulfinpyrazone (Anturane);
diabetes medications you take by mouth; or
steroids such as prednisone, fluticasone (Advair), mometasone (Asmanex, Nasonex), dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol) and others.

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

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine written for health professionals that you may read.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2003 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 4.02. Revision date: 01/28/2008.

Last Updated: 01/28/2008