Painaid

Pronunciation: a-SEET-a-MIN-oh-fen/AS-pir-in/KAF-een/SAL-i-SIL-a-mide
Generic Name: Acetaminophen/Aspirin/Caffeine/Salicylamide
Brand Name: Examples include Levacet and Painaid

Painaid is used for:

Relieving migraine headaches. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Painaid is an analgesic and antipyretic combination. It works by blocking substances in the body that cause pain and inflammation. Caffeine constricts blood vessels, which helps to relieve migraine headache.

Do NOT use Painaid if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Painaid


• you are a child or teenager with influenza (flu) or chickenpox


• you have bleeding problems, such as hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, or low blood platelets


• you have had a severe allergic reaction (eg, severe rash, hives, breathing difficulties, dizziness) to aspirin, tartrazine, or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (eg, celecoxib, ibuprofen, naproxen)


• you are taking an anticoagulant (eg, warfarin) or methotrexate

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Painaid:

Some medical conditions may interact with Painaid. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding


• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement


• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances


• if you have a history of alcohol abuse or if you consume 3 or more alcohol-containing drinks every day


• if you have asthma, bleeding or clotting problems, growths in the nose (nasal polyps), kidney or liver problems (eg, cirrhosis, hepatitis), heart problems, influenza (flu) or chickenpox, vitamin K deficiency, anxiety, or sleeplessness


• if you have or have a history of stomach or peptic ulcers (bleeding ulcers) or other stomach problems (eg, heartburn, upset stomach, stomach pain)


• if the patient is a child with a stroke, a weakened blood vessel (cerebral aneurysm) or bleeding in the brain, or Kawasaki syndrome (a rare inflammation causing heart problems in children)

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Painaid. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any of the following medicines, especially any of the following:

• Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (eg, acetazolamide) because they may decrease Painaid's effectiveness


• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), clopidogrel, corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), heparin, NSAIDs (eg, celecoxib, ibuprofen, naproxen), or serotonin reuptake inhibitors (eg, fluoxetine) because the risk of side effects, including bleeding, may be increased by Painaid


• Insulin, isoniazid, oral hypoglycemics (eg, glyburide), or quinolone antibiotics (eg, ciprofloxacin) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Painaid


• Methotrexate, theophylline, or valproic acid because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Painaid


• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (eg, enalapril), probenecid, or sulfinpyrazone because their effectiveness may be decreased by Painaid

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Painaid may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Painaid:

Use Painaid as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take Painaid by mouth with or without food. If stomach upset occurs, take with food to reduce stomach irritation.


• Take Painaid with a full glass of water (8 oz/240 mL). Do not lie down for 30 minutes after taking Painaid.


• Use Painaid exactly as directed on the package, unless instructed differently by your doctor. If you are taking Painaid without a prescription, follow any warnings and precautions on the label.


• If you miss a dose of Painaid and you are taking it regularly, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Painaid.

Important safety information:

• Painaid has acetaminophen and aspirin in it. Before you start any new medicine, check the label to see if it has acetaminophen or aspirin in it too. If it does or if you are not sure, check with your doctor or pharmacist.


• Painaid may harm your liver. Your risk may be greater if you drink alcohol while you are using Painaid. Talk to your doctor before you take Painaid or other fever reducers if you drink more than 3 drinks with alcohol per day.


• Do not take more than the dose recommended by your doctor or the package labeling. If you take more than recommended, your risk of severely harming your liver may be increased. If you are not sure how much of Painaid you may take, contact your doctor or pharmacist.


• Aspirin has been linked to a serious illness called Reye syndrome. Do not give Painaid to a child or teenager who has the flu, chickenpox, or a viral infection. Contact your doctor with any questions or concerns.


• Avoid large amounts of food or drink that have caffeine (eg, coffee, tea, cocoa, cola, chocolate). Too much caffeine may cause nervousness, irritability, sleeplessness, or fast heartbeat.


• Serious stomach ulcers or bleeding can occur with the use of Painaid. Taking it in high doses or for a long time, smoking, or drinking alcohol increases the risk of these side effects. Taking Painaid with food will NOT reduce the risk of these effects. Contact your doctor or emergency room at once if you develop severe stomach or back pain; black, tarry stools; vomit that looks like blood or coffee grounds; or unusual weight gain or swelling.


• Painaid may reduce the number of clot-forming cells (platelets) in your blood. Avoid activities that may cause bruising or injury. Tell your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding. Tell your doctor if you have dark, tarry, or bloody stools.


• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Painaid before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.


• Do not take Painaid for at least 7 days after any surgery unless directed by your health care provider.


• Painaid may cause false results with some in-home test kits for blood cholesterol. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking Painaid and need to check your blood cholesterol at home.


• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Painaid while you are pregnant. Painaid is not recommended during the last 3 months (third trimester) of pregnancy. It may cause harm to the fetus or complications during delivery. Painaid is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Painaid, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Painaid:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Heartburn; nausea; upset stomach.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); black or bloody stools; confusion; dark urine or pale stools; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; hearing loss; ringing in the ears; severe stomach pain; unusual tiredness; vomiting; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

See also: Painaid side effects (in more detail)

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include dark urine; excessive sweating; extreme fatigue; irregular heartbeat; low blood pressure; stomach pain; vomiting; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Proper storage of Painaid:

Store Painaid at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C), in a tightly closed container. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Painaid out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Painaid, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.


• Painaid is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.


• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.


• Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Painaid. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More Painaid resources

• Painaid Side Effects (in more detail)
• Painaid Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Painaid Drug Interactions
• Painaid Support Group
• 0 Reviews for Painaid - Add your own review/rating

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