Aspirin NSAID Caffeine Stimulant Routes of
administration Oral | Paracetamol Analgesic AHFS/Drugs.com excedrin | |
Trade names Excedrin, Vanquish, others | ||
Aspirin/paracetamol/caffeine is a combination drug for the treatment of pain, especially tension headache and migraine. It is sold in the US under the trade name Excedrin, although not all products sold under this name contain this combination. It is sold as Anadin Extra in the UK.
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Adverse effects
The recommended dosing has a low risk profile when taken occasionally in a well hydrated state. As with all medications containing paracetamol (acetaminophen), concomitant use with alcohol carries a significant risk of hepatotoxicity. The combination of paracetamol with aspirin also creates the risk of renal papillary necrosis if large doses are taken chronically. This is because paracetamol yields a toxic metabolite that can accumulate in the kidney while aspirin works to deplete the glutathione stores necessary to oxidize it. Additionally, chronic aspirin usage is associated with increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.
Chemical detection
The combination of these three compounds can be detected in pharmaceutical formulations, urine and blood serum in trace quantities using electrochemical methods.
Other trade names
This combination was introduced in 1964 under the trade name Vanquish by Sterling Drug, which after a series of mergers and acquisitions became a unit of Bayer AG.
In Germany, it is sold as Chephapyrin, dolomo, Dolopyrin, HA-Tabletten N, Melabon, Neuralgin, Novo Petrin, ratiopyrin, Thomapyrin Classic, Thomapyrin Intensiv, Titralgan, in Austria as Thomapyrin, InfluASS, Irocophan, in Israel as Acamol Focus and in Russia as Citramon.