Before taking acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine?

Do not drink alcohol during treatment with acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine. Together, alcohol, acetaminophen, and aspirin can be damaging to the liver and stomach. If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, talk to your doctor before taking acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you:

* have an allergy to or have had problems after taking aspirin;
* have an allergy to or have had problems after taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, others), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox, others), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis, Oruvail), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), and others;
* drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day;
* have never had migraines diagnosed by a doctor;
* have a headache that is different from or more severe than your usual migraines;
* have daily headaches;
* have a headache following or caused by a head injury, exertion, coughing, or bending;
* experienced your first headache after age 50;
* have an ulcer or bleeding in the stomach;
* have liver disease;
* have kidney disease;
* have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder (e.g., hemophilia);
* have high blood pressure;
* have gout;
* have asthma;
* have nasal polyps;
* have anxiety problems or insomnia.

You may not be able to take acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine 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, aspirin, and caffeine will be harmful to unborn baby. However, it is known that aspirin taken during pregnancy may affect an unborn baby’s heart, reduce birth weight, and have other dangerous effects on the unborn baby. Do not take acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

Acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine may affect a nursing baby. Do not take this medicine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not use acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine to treat a child or teenager who has a fever, flu symptoms, or chicken pox without first talking to the child’s doctor. In children younger than 18 years of age, aspirin may increase the risk of Reye"s syndrome, a rare but often fatal condition.