acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine

Pronunciation:	a see ta MIH noe fen and fen ill toe LOX a meen
Brand:	Acuflex, Apagesic, Duogesic, Flextra-DS, Genasec, Percogesic

What is the most important information I should know about acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine?

Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.

Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine. Alcohol may also cause damage to your liver when taken with acetaminophen.

What is acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine?

Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and a fever reducer.

Phenyltoloxamine is an antihistamine. It blocks the effects of the naturally occurring chemical histamine in the body. Phenyltoloxamine prevents sneezing; itchy, watery eyes and nose; and other symptoms of allergies and hay fever.

Acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine is used to treat aches and pains, headache, fever, and congestion associated with the flu, colds, allergies, and hay fever.

Acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine?

Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day or if you have had alcoholic liver disease. You may not be able to take acetaminophen.

Do not take acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A very serious drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have

liver disease;
kidney disease;
diabetes;
glaucoma;
difficulty urinating because of an enlarged prostate, a constricted bladder neck, or any other reason;
a stenosing peptic (stomach) ulcer;
high blood pressure or any type of heart disease; or
an overactive thyroid.

You may not be able to take acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

It is not known whether acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine will harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.

Acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

If you are over 60 years of age, you may be more likely to experience side effects from acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine.

Read the package label for directions or consult your doctor or pharmacist before treating a child with this medication. Children are more susceptible than adults to the effects of medicines and may have unusual reactions.

How should I take acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine?

Take acetaminophen an phenyltoloxamine exactly as directed. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

Never take more acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine than is directed. The maximum amount of acetaminophen for adults is 1 gram (1000 mg) per dose and 4 grams (4000 mg) per day. Taking more acetaminophen could cause damage to your liver. If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day, talk to your doctor before taking acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine and never take more than 2 grams (2000 mg) per day.

Consult your doctor if your symptoms do not improve within 10 days (or 5 days for children under 12 years of age) or if they get worse. Do not use this product to treat a fever for more than 3 days.

Store acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of an acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine overdose may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, sweating, seizures, confusion, sedation, insomnia, tremor, hallucinations, and an irregular heartbeat.

What should I avoid while taking acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine?

Acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine may increase the effects of other drugs that cause drowsiness, including antidepressants, alcohol, other antihistamines, pain relievers, anxiety medicines, seizure medicines, and muscle relaxants. Dangerous sedation, dizziness, or drowsiness may occur if acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine is taken with any of these medications.

What are the possible side effects of acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine?

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine and seek emergency medical attention:

an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
liver damage (yellowing of the skin or eyes, nausea, abdominal pain or discomfort, unusual bleeding or bruising, or severe fatigue);
blood problems (easy or unusual bleeding or bruising); or
low blood sugar (fatigue, increased hunger or thirst, dizziness, or fainting).

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur including:

dry eyes, nose, and mouth;
drowsiness or dizziness;
blurred vision;
difficulty urinating; or
excitation in children.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine?

Urine glucose tests may produce false results while you are taking acetaminophen. Talk to your doctor if you are diabetic and you notice changes in your glucose levels during therapy with acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine.

Do not take other over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, diet, pain or sleep medicines while taking acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine without first talking to your doctor. Other medications may also contain acetaminophen, phenyltoloxamine, or other similar drugs and you may accidentally take too much of these medicines.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist has additional information about acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Acetaminophen and phenyltoloxamine is available over the counter under the brand names Percogesic, Phenylgesic, Major-gesic, and Acta-Gesic. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2003 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 6.03. Revision date: 5/1/06.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.