Acetaminophen and Aspirin

Acetaminophen/aspirin is an over-the-counter (OTC) product used to relieve minor pain caused by headache, muscular aches, fever, minor arthritis pain, and colds.

Acetaminophen/aspirin is available under the following different brand names: Goody's Powder Back & Body Pain and Excedrin Back & Body.

Dosages of Acetaminophen/Aspirin:

Dosage Forms and Strengths

Oral Powder (Goody's Powder Back & Body Pain)

• 325mg/500 mg

Caplet (Excedrin Back & Body)

• 80mg
• 120mg
• 325mg
• 650mg

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

Analgesia/Fever

• Indicated to relieve minor pain caused by headache, muscular aches, fever, minor arthritis pain, and colds
• Adults and children over 12 years: Goody's Powder Back & Body Pain: 1 powder on the tongue (or mixed in water or other liquid) orally every 6 hours; not to exceed 4 powders/24 hours
• Adults and children over 12 years: Excedrin Back & Body: 2 caplets orally every 6 hours; not to exceed 8 caplets/24 hours
• Children under 12 years: Safety and efficacy not established

Common side effects of acetaminophen/aspirin include:

Acetaminophen

• Angioedema, laryngeal swelling
• Itchy rash, hives
• Agranulocytosis, leukopenia, neutropenia, pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia, thrombocytopenic purpura
• Liver toxicity
• May increase uric acid, chloride, glucose
• May decrease sodium, calcium, bicarbonate
• Anaphylactoid reaction

Aspirin

• Rash, hives
• Indigestion, heartburn, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) (high or chronic dose)

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.

• Severe interactions of acetaminophen/aspirin include:
  • dichlorphenamide
  • mifepristone
• Serious interactions of acetaminophen/aspirin include:
  • benazepril
  • captopril
  • enalapril
  • fosinopril
  • ibuprofen
  • ibuprofen IV
  • ketorolac
  • ketorolac intranasal
  • lesinurad
  • lisinopril
  • macimorelin
  • measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine, live
  • methotrexate
  • moexipril
  • pemetrexed
  • perindopril
  • pexidartinib
  • pretomanid
  • probenecid
• Acetaminophen/aspirin has moderate interactions with at least 289 different drugs.
• Acetaminophen/aspirin has mild interactions with at least 165different drugs.

Warnings

• This medication contains acetaminophen/aspirin. Do not take Goody's Powder Back & Body Pain or Excedrin Back & Body if you are allergic to acetaminophen/aspirin or any ingredients contained in this drug.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity
• Hepatitis or severe hepatic/renal impairment

Effects of Drug Abuse

• No information is available.

Short-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Acetaminophen/Aspirin?"

Long-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Acetaminophen/Aspirin?"

Cautions

• Contains aspirin; children and adolescents should not use for symptoms of viral infections (e.g., chickenpox, influenza) due to risk for Reye syndrome
• Hepatic impairment or consumption of 3 or more alcoholic beverages/day may increase the risk for liver damage (associated with acetaminophen) or gastrointestinal bleeding (associated with magnesium salicylate)
• Do not take with other products that contain acetaminophen due to the risk of additive toxicity/overdose
• Avoid with active peptic ulcer disease
• Avoid severe renal impairment (i.e., CrCl less than 10 mL/minute)
• Acetaminophen: Risk for rare, but serious skin reactions that can be fatal; these reactions include Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP); symptoms may include skin redness, blisters, and rash

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Use acetaminophen/aspirin during pregnancy in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug is available. There is positive evidence of human fetal risk. Avoid aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) during pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester because of the risk for premature closure of the ductus arteriosus.
• Acetaminophen/aspirin is excreted in breast milk.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding patients should seek the advice of a health professional before using over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.