Narcotic Analgesics and Acetaminophen : Before Using

Narcotic Analgesics and Acetaminophen - Systemic

Narcotic Analgesics and Acetaminophen *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For narcotic analgesic and acetaminophen combinations, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to acetaminophen or to a narcotic analgesic. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy care

For acetaminophen : Although studies on birth defects with acetaminophen have not been done in pregnant women, it has not been reported to cause birth defects or other problems.
For narcotic analgesics : Although studies on birth defects with narcotic analgesics have not been done in pregnant women, they have not been reported to cause birth defects. However, hydrocodone causing birth defects in animal studies when very large doses were using. Codeine did not cause birth defects in pets, but it causing slower development of bones and other toxic or harmful effects in the fetus. Pentazocine and propoxyphene did not cause birth defects in pets. There is no information about whether dihydrocodeine or oxycodone causes birth defects in pets.
Too much use of a narcotic during pregnancy may cause the fetus to become dependent on the drug. This may lead to withdrawal side effects in the newborn baby. Always some of these medication may cause breathing problems in the newborn baby if taken just before or during delivery.
For caffeine : Studies have not shown that caffeine - contained in some of these combination medication causes birth defects. However, studies in pets have shown that caffeine causes birth defects when given in very large doses - amounts equal to those present in 12 to 24 cups of coffee a day.

Breast-feeding problem

Acetaminophen, codeine and propoxyphene pass into the breast milk. It is not known whether other narcotic analgesics pass into the breast milk. However, these medication have not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Use for Children

Breathing problems may be especially likely to occur when narcotic analgesics are given to children younger than 2 years of age. These children are usually more sensitive than adults to the effects of narcotic analgesics. Always unusual excitement or restlessness may be more likely to occur in child receiving these medication.

Acetaminophen has been tested in child and has not been shown to cause various side effects or problems in child than it does in adults.

Elderly care

Elderly people are especially sensitive to the effects of narcotic analgesics. This may increase the risk of side effects, especially breathing problems, during treat.

Acetaminophen has been tested and has not been shown to cause various side effects or problems in elderly people than it does in adults people.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking a narcotic analgesic and acetaminophen combination, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Carbamazepine - Tegretol Propoxyphene may increase the blood levels of carbamazepine, which increases the risk of serious side effects

Central nervous system - CNS depressants
Monoamine oxidase - MAO inhibitor activity - isocarboxazid " Marplan ", phenelzine " Nardil ", procarbazine " Matulane ", selegiline " Eldepryl ", tranylcypromine " Parnate " - taken currently or within the past 2 weeks
Tricyclic antidepressants - amitriptyline " Elavil ", amoxapine " Asendin ", clomipramine " Anafranil ", desipramine " Pertofrane ", doxepin " Sinequan ", imipramine " Tofranil ", nortriptyline " Aventyl ", protriptyline " Vivactil ", trimipramine " Surmontil " Taking these medication together with a narcotic analgesic may increase the risk of serious side effects

Naltrexone - Trexan Naltrexone keeps narcotic analgesics from working to relieve pain; people taking naltrexone must take pain relievers that do not contain a narcotic

Zidovudine - AZT, Retrovir Acetaminophen may increase the blood levels of zidovudine, which increases the risk of serious side effects

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of narcotic analgesic and acetaminophen combinations. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Alcohol andother drug abuse, or history of,
Brain disease or head injury
Colitis
Convulsions - seizures, history of,
Emotional problems or mental illness
Emphysema, asthma, or other chronic lung disease
Hepatitis or other liver disease
Kidney disease
Underactive thyroid The risk of serious side effects may be increased

Enlarged prostate or problems with urination
Gallbladder disease or gallstones Some of the effects of narcotic analgesics may be especially serious in people with these medical problems

Heart disease Caffeine - present in some of these combination medication can make some kinds of heart disease worse