What is acetaminophen, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine?
Dihydrocodeine is an opioid pain medication. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic.
Acetaminophen is a less potent pain reliever that increases the effects of dihydrocodeine.
Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. It relaxes muscle contractions in blood vessels to improve blood flow.
The combination of acetaminophen, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine is used to relieve moderate to severe pain.
Acetaminophen, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about acetaminophen, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine?
Tell your doctor if you have ever had alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis) or if you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day. You may not be able to take medicine that contains acetaminophen.
Do not take more of this medication than is recommended. An overdose of acetaminophen can damage your liver or cause death.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your risk of liver damage while taking acetaminophen.
Dihydrocodeine may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.
This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how acetaminophen, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine will affect you.
Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking acetaminophen, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to acetaminophen (Tylenol) or dihydrocodeine, or if you have a stomach condition called paralytic ileus, or severe or uncontrolled asthma.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis) or if you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day. You may not be able to take medicine that contains acetaminophen.
Dihydrocodeine may be habit forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Never share acetaminophen, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.
To make sure you can safely take this medicine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
sleep apnea or other breathing disorders;
liver or kidney disease;
a history of head injury or brain tumor;
epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
low blood pressure;
a stomach or intestinal disorder;
underactive thyroid;
a pancreas disorder;
Addison's disease or other adrenal gland disorder;
enlarged prostate, urination problems;
curvature of the spine;
mental illness; or
a history of drug or alcohol addiction.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this medication is harmful to an unborn baby, but it could cause breathing problems or addiction/withdrawal symptoms in a newborn. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using acetaminophen, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine.
Dihydrocodeine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. The use of this medication 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.