Propoxyphene/Aspirin/Caffeine, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: analgesic (painkiller)

Generic and brand names: propoxyphene and aspirin with caffeine, oral; Darvon Compound-65; Propoxyphene Compound-65

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is a combination of a narcotic analgesic and aspirin. It is taken by mouth to treat moderate to severe pain.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergy to any medicine
• a recent head injury
• Addison's disease
• an underactive thyroid (hypothyroid)
• asthma or lung disease
• diabetes
• gout
• heart disease
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• low blood pressure
• nasal polyps
• pancreatitis
• problems with drug or alcohol abuse
• prostate problems
• seizures
• severe diarrhea or constipation
• stomach problems such as ulcers, colitis, or bowel obstruction
• trouble urinating.
• stomach ulcers.

Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines (including nonprescription products) you are taking, to avoid an overdose of narcotics or aspirin.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Take it only for the condition for which it was prescribed. Do not take more of it or take it longer than prescribed. Taking too much of this medicine may be habit-forming or lead to an overdose.

You may take this medicine with or without food. Taking it with meals or milk may lessen the chance the drug will upset your stomach.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

You may need to take this medicine for a long time. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. You may have to reduce your dosage gradually to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Do not give this medicine to children and teenagers with symptoms of chicken pox or influenza without your healthcare provider's approval.

This medicine increases the effects of alcohol and other drugs that slow down your nervous system. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines unless your healthcare provider approves.

Do not take other pain medicines that contain ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve) or aspirin (Anacin, Bufferin, Ecotrin, and Ascriptin), while you are taking this medicine. This medicine also contains aspirin and it may increase your risk of bleeding. Taking an overdose can cause serious problems. If you think you have taken an overdose or notice any unusual bruising or bleeding, get medical care right away.

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

You may feel dizzy or faint when you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may lessen this effect. Also, drinking alcohol may increase this effect.

Contact your healthcare provider if your condition does not improve in a few days or if it gets worse.

This medicine may make you constipated. You may need to take a laxative or stool softener while taking this medicine. Talk with healthcare provider or pharmacist about this.

Adults over the age of 65 may be at greater risk for side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Smoking may decrease the effectiveness of this medicine. Talk with your provider if you need help to quit smoking.

This medicine is a controlled substance. It is illegal for you to give it to anyone else.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Black tarry stools, unusual bruising or bleeding, bloody or dark urine, ringing in your ears, depression, hallucinations, trembling, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, severe headache, severe diarrhea, pounding heartbeat, trouble urinating, yellowish eyes or skin.

Other: Stomach upset, dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, blurred vision, decreased appetite, constipation, minor itching, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods, may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• alcohol
• ACE inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), and ramipril (Altace)
• analgesics or pain medicine such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil, Nuprin), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve, Naprelan), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), nabumetone (Relafen), indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), sulindac (Clinoril), piroxicam (Feldene), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), oxaprozin (Daypro), tramadol (Ultram), propoxyphene (Darvocet N-100), and celecoxib (Celebrex)
• antianxiety medicines such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clonazepam (Klonopin), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), triazolam (Halcion), temazepam (Restoril), flurazepam (Dalmane), and oxazepam (Serax)
• anticholinergic medicines such as benztropine (Cogentin), dicyclomine (Bentyl), atropine sulfate, belladonna, propantheline (Pro-Banthine), methscopolamine (Pamine), l-hyoscyamine (Levsin, Levsinex), amantadine (Symmetrel), procyclidine (Kemadrin), and trihexyphenidyl (Artane)
• anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), primidone (Mysoline), gabapentin (Neurontin), felbamate (Felbatol), lamotrigine (Lamictal), levetiracetam (Keppra), topiramate (Topamax), valproic acid (Depacon, Depakene, Depakote), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), tiagabine (Gabitril) and phenytoin (Dilantin)
• antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), brompheniramine (Dimetane), and hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril)
• antinausea medicines such as prochlorperazine (Compazine) and promethazine (Phenergan)
• antiplatelet medicines such as other medicines containing aspirin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), dipyridamole (Persantine), and clopidogrel (Plavix)
• antipsychotic medicines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Permitil, Prolixin), perphenazine, prochlorperazine (Compazine), trifluoperazine (Stelazine), thioridazine, haloperidol (Haldol), clozapine (Clozaril), and olanzapine (Zyprexa)
• barbiturates such as phenobarbital, butabarbital (Butisol), and pentobarbital (Nembutal)
• beta blockers taken by mouth such as timolol, nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), acebutolol (Sectral), pindolol, atenolol (Tenormin), esmolol (Brevibloc), betaxolol (Kerlone), bisoprolol (Zebeta), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), sotalol (Betapace), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), and carvedilol (Coreg)
• blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, dalteparin (Fragmin), and enoxaparin sodium (Lovenox)
• corticosteroids such as cortisone (Cortone), betamethasone (Celestone), dexamethasone, fludrocortisone (Florinef), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone, A-HydroCort), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Meticorten, Orasone), prednisolone (Delta-Cortef), and triamcinolone (Aristocort, Kenacort)
• diabetes medicines such as insulin, glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase), glipizide (Glucotrol), repaglinide (Prandin), metformin (Glucophage), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and pioglitazone (Actos)
• diuretics (water pills) such as hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide, Oretic), furosemide (Lasix), chlorothiazide (Diuril), bumetanide (Bumex), torsemide (Demadex), spironolactone (Aldactone), triamterene (Dyrenium), and amiloride (Midamor)
• general anesthetics used during surgery
• gout medicines such as sulfinpyrazone (Anturane) and probenecid (Benemid, Probalan)
• herbal remedies such as bromelains, cat's claw, dong quai, evening primrose, feverfew, garlic, ginkgo biloba, red clover, horse chestnut, green tea, ginseng, kava, St. John's wort, gotu kola, and valerian
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), selegiline (Eldepryl), and isocarboxazid (Marplan) (Do not take an MAO inhibitor and this medicine within 14 days of each other.)
• medicines that block or may partially block the effect of other narcotics such as naltrexone (ReVia), buprenorphine (Buprenex, Subutex), and nalbuphine (Nubain)
• mercaptopurine (Purinethol)
• methotrexate (Folex)
• muscle relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), carisoprodol (Soma), tizanidine (Zanaflex), methocarbamol (Robaxin), and baclofen (Lioresal)
• other medicines that contain salicylates such as Alka Seltzer and Pepto Bismol
• other narcotic analgesics such as codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab), oxycodone (Percocet, Tylox, OxyContin), morphine (MS Contin), propoxyphene (Darvocet N-100), pentazocine (Talwin), meperidine (Demerol), fentanyl (Duragesic patches), methadone (Dolophine), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
• sleeping pills such as zolpidem (Ambien), chloral hydrate and zaleplon (Sonata)
• tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil), doxepin (Sinequan), desipramine (Norpramin), and trazodone (Desyrel).

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.