acetaminophen, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine Health Article

How should I take acetaminophen, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take it in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.

An overdose of acetaminophen can cause serious harm to your liver. The maximum amount of acetaminophen for adults is 1 gram (1000 mg) per dose and 4 grams (4000 mg) per day. Know the amount of acetaminophen in the specific product you are taking. You may have withdrawal symptoms when you stop using acetaminophen, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine after using it over a long period of time. Do not stop using this medication suddenly without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely.

This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain urine tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using acetaminophen, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using acetaminophen, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Store the medicine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Keep track of how many tablets have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Dihydrocodeine is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since this medication is taken as needed, 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 the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not use 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 acetaminophen, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine can be fatal.

Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness or insomnia, restless feeling, tremors, fast heart rate, sweating, pinpoint pupils, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), confusion, fainting, weak pulse, seizure (convulsions), coma, blue lips, shallow breathing, or no breathing.

What should I avoid while taking acetaminophen, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine?

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. Do not use any other over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, or pain medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Acetaminophen and caffeine are contained in many medicines available over the counter. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of a certain drug. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains acetaminophen or caffeine. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication. Alcohol may increase your risk of liver damage while taking acetaminophen.

While you are taking this medication, avoid taking diet pills, caffeine pills, or other stimulants (such as ADHD medications) without your doctor's advice.

Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, antidepressants, or seizure medication can add to sleepiness caused by dihydrocodeine, or could slow your breathing. Tell your doctor if you need to use any of these other medicines while you are taking acetaminophen, caffeine, and dihydrocodeine.