aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine

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Pronunciation: AS pir in, kar EYE soe PROE dol, and KOE deen

What is the most important information I should know about aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine?

Aspirin may cause stomach or intestinal bleeding, which can be fatal.

You should not use this medicine if you have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, low levels of platelets in your blood, porphyria, or a history of asthma or severe allergic reaction caused by taking aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Medicines that contain codeine should not be given to a child just after surgery to remove the tonsils or adenoids.

Get emergency medical help if a child taking this medication has breathing problems, blue lips, or severe drowsiness, or if you cannot wake the child up from sleep.

What is aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine?

Aspirin is a salicylate (sa-LIS-il-ate) that reduces substances in the body that cause pain and inflammation. Aspirin is also a fever reducer. Carisoprodol is a muscle relaxer that works by blocking pain sensations between the nerves and the brain. Codeine is an opioid pain medication. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic.

Aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine is a combination medicine used together with rest and physical therapy to treat pain, muscle spasm, and other symptoms related to injuries and other painful muscular conditions.

Aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine?

Aspirin may cause stomach or intestinal bleeding, which can be fatal. These conditions can occur without warning while you are taking this medicine.

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to aspirin, carisoprodol, or codeine, or if you have:

  • a bleeding or blood clotting disorder;
  • low levels of platelets in blood;
  • porphyria (a genetic enzyme disorder that causes symptoms affecting the skin or nervous system); or
  • a history of asthma or severe allergic reaction (aspirin triad syndrome) caused by taking aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

In some people, codeine breaks down rapidly in the liver and reaches higher than normal levels in the body. This can cause dangerously slow breathing and may cause death, especially in a child.

Medicines that contain codeine should not be given to a child just after surgery to remove the tonsils or adenoids.

Some medicines can interact with codeine and cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Be sure your doctor knows if you also take medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting. Ask your doctor before making any changes in how or when you take your medications.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

  • a sulfite allergy;
  • liver or kidney disease;
  • a breathing disorder;
  • a history of stomach ulcer or intestinal blockage; or
  • a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

If you use codeine while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks. Taking aspirin during late pregnancy may cause bleeding in the mother or the baby during delivery. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

This medication can pass into breast milk. The use of codeine by some nursing mothers may lead to life-threatening side effects in the baby. Aspirin use while breast-feeding could cause bleeding in the infant. Do not breast-feed while taking aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine.

This medication should not be given to a child or teenager who has a fever, especially if the child also has flu symptoms or chicken pox. Aspirin can cause a serious and sometimes fatal condition called Reye's syndrome in children.

How should I take aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine?

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Never take this medicine in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.

Codeine may be habit-forming, even at regular doses. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. MISUSE OF NARCOTIC MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Selling or giving away aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine is against the law.

Do not stop using this medicine suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Codeine is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since this medicine is used when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are on a schedule, use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of this medication can be fatal.

Overdose symptoms may include rapid breathing, vomiting, fever, sweating, diarrhea, thirst, extreme weakness or dizziness, headache, vision problems, confusion, ringing in your ears, muffled hearing, pinpoint pupils, fainting, weak or shallow breathing, or breathing that stops.

What should I avoid while taking aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine?

This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine will affect you.

Do not drink alcohol. Dangerous side effects or death could occur.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, or pain medicine. Aspirin (sometimes abbreviated as ASA) is contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much aspirin. Check the label to see if a medicine contains aspirin.

Avoid using antacids without your doctor's advice. Use only the type of antacid your doctor recommends. Some antacids can make it harder for your body to absorb aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine.

What are the possible side effects of aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Like other narcotic medicines, codeine can slow your breathing. Death may occur if breathing becomes too weak.

Seek emergency medical attention if a child taking this medication has any of the following life-threatening side effects: noisy breathing, sighing, slow breathing with long pauses between breaths; being unusually sleepy or hard to wake up; blue colored lips.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • joint pain, extreme weakness, confusion, loss of movement in your arms or legs, double vision or temporary loss of vision (these effects may occur within minutes or hours after taking the medicine);
  • runny nose, wheezing, trouble breathing;
  • bleeding from your rectum or blood in your stools, vomiting, weight loss, night-time stomach pain;
  • coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
  • bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness;
  • infertility, missed menstrual periods;
  • impotence, sexual problems, loss of interest in sex;
  • low cortisol levels -- nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, worsening tiredness or weakness; or
  • severe skin reaction --fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Seek medical attention right away if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Common side effects may include:

  • dizziness, drowsiness;
  • mild nausea, heartburn, upset stomach, hiccups;
  • diarrhea, constipation;
  • mild itching or skin rash; or
  • flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine?

Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used together. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all medicines you use now, and any medicine you start or stop using.

Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before taking a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, prescription cough medicine, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.

Other drugs may interact with aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about aspirin, carisoprodol, and codeine.

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.

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