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What is acetaminophen-codeine?

Codeine is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers. Acetaminophen is a less potent pain reliever that increases the effects of codeine.

The combination of acetaminophen and codeine is used to relieve moderate to severe pain.

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

Precautions

Instructions

Side-effects

Interactions

Precautions

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to acetaminophen (Tylenol) or codeine.

Codeine may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Acetaminophen 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.

Before using acetaminophen and codeine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• asthma, COPD, 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;
• 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.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication.

Tell your doctor if you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day or if you have ever had alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis). You may not be able to take medication that contains acetaminophen.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby, and could cause breathing problems or addiction/withdrawal symptoms in a newborn. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Acetaminophen and 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.

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 is contained in many medicines available over the counter. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much acetaminophen. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains acetaminophen.

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking acetaminophen and codeine. Alcohol may increase your risk of liver damage while taking acetaminophen.

Cold or allergy medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by codeine. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these medicines, or any other narcotic pain medicine.

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Instructions

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

Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, sweating, pinpoint pupils, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), confusion, cold and clammy skin, fainting, weak pulse, seizure (convulsions), coma, blue lips, shallow breathing, or no breathing.

Since acetaminophen and codeine 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.

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Side-effects

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.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• shallow breathing, slow heartbeat;
• feeling light-headed, fainting;
• confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior;
• seizure (convulsions);
• easy bruising or bleeding; or
• nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious side effects include:

• feeling dizzy or drowsy;
• mild nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, constipation;
• headache;
• blurred vision; or
• dry mouth.

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

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Interactions

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• glycopyrrolate (Robinul);
• mepenzolate (Cantil);
• atropine (Donnatal, and others), benztropine (Cogentin), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), methscopolamine (Pamine), or scopolamine (Transderm-Scop);
• bladder or urinary medications such as darifenacin (Enablex), flavoxate (Urispas), oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol), tolterodine (Detrol), or solifenacin (Vesicare);
• a bronchodilator such as ipratroprium (Atrovent) or tiotropium (Spiriva); or
• irritable bowel medications such as dicyclomine (Bentyl), hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin, and others), or propantheline (Pro-Banthine).

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

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