Asa/Caffeine/Dihydrocodeine

Aspirin is a salicylate (sa-LIS-il-ate). 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.
Dihydrocodeine is related to codeine. It is an opioid pain medication. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic.
Aspirin, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine is a combination medicine used to treat moderate to severe pain.
Aspirin, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Dihydrocodeine can slow or stop your breathing. Never use this medicine in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Dihydrocodeine may also be habit-forming, even at regular doses. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medicine in a place where others cannot get to it.
MISUSE OF NARCOTIC MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription.
Aspirin may cause stomach or intestinal bleeding, which can be fatal.
Medicines that contain dihydrocodeine or codeine should not be given to a child just after surgery to remove the tonsils or adenoids.
Get emergency medical help if a child taking this medication has breathing problems, blue lips, or severe drowsiness, or if you cannot wake the child up from sleep.
Aspirin may cause stomach or intestinal bleeding, which can be fatal. These conditions can occur without warning while you are taking aspirin.
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to aspirin, caffeine, or dihydrocodeine.
In some people, codeine (dihydrocodeine) breaks down rapidly in the liver and reaches higher than normal levels in the body. This can cause dangerously slow breathing and may cause death, especially in a child.
Medicines that contain dihydrocodeine or codeine should not be given to a child just after surgery to remove the tonsils or adenoids.
To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder;
• stomach ulcer or bleeding;
• severe constipation, blockage in your stomach or intestines;
• liver or kidney disease;
• asthma or other breathing disorder;
• a history of head injury or brain tumor; or
• a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

Dihydrocodeine may cause addiction or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn if the mother takes the medication during pregnancy. Taking aspirin during late pregnancy may cause bleeding in the mother or the baby during delivery. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.
This medication 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. Aspirin use while breast-feeding could cause bleeding in the infant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine.
Serious side effects may be more likely in older adults and those who are ill or debilitated.
Do not give this medication to a child or teenager with a fever, flu symptoms, or chicken pox. Salicylates can cause Reye's syndrome, a serious and sometimes fatal condition in children.

Asa/Caffeine/Dihydrocodeine Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Seek emergency medical attention if a child taking this medication has any of the following life-threatening side effects: noisy breathing, sighing, slow breathing with long pauses between breaths; being unusually sleepy or hard to wake up; blue colored lips.
Call your doctor at once if you have:

• shallow breathing, slow heart rate;
• fast or pounding heart rate, muscle twitching;
• confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior;
• symptoms of stomach bleeding--bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Common side effects may include:

• dizziness, drowsiness;
• nausea, vomiting, constipation;
• sleep problems (insomnia); or
• itching or mild rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Asa/Caffeine/Dihydrocodeine Interactions

This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how the medicine will affect you. Dizziness or severe drowsiness can cause falls or other accidents.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any cough, cold, allergy, or pain medication. Aspirin and caffeine are contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much of a certain drug. Check the label to see if a medicine contains aspirin or caffeine.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your risk of stomach bleeding.
Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous or life-threatening side effects. Ask your doctor before taking this medicine with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.
Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with aspirin, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine, especially:

• medication to prevent blood clots--dalteparin, desirudin, enoxaparin, fondaparinux, tinzaparin, warfarin, Coumadin; or
• an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug)--ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), ketorolac.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with aspirin, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Asa/Caffeine/Dihydrocodeine Dosage

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Dihydrocodeine can slow or stop your breathing. Never use this medicine in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.
Dihydrocodeine may be habit-forming, even at regular doses. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. MISUSE OF NARCOTIC MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Selling or giving away aspirin, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine is against the law.
Do not stop using this medicine suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using aspirin, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine.
If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Dihydrocodeine is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of dihydrocodeine can be fatal.
Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness or insomnia, tremors, fast heart rate, pinpoint pupils, ringing in your ears, fainting, weak pulse, seizure (convulsions), blue lips, shallow breathing, or no breathing.
Since this medicine is used when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are on a schedule, use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.