Compound analgesics are those with multiple active ingredients; they include many of the stronger prescription analgesics.

Active ingredients that have been commonly used in compound analgesics include:

There is evidence that a compound of two analgesics with different mechanism of action can have an increased painkilling effect over the sum of the effect of each individual analgesic.[1]

Several such formulations have disappeared from over-the-counter status in drug store aisles and other retail outlets. One example is APC (aspirin, phenacetin, and caffeine) compound tablets common from the 1940s to 1983; because of harmful side effects of phenacetin, Anacin in the U.S. was reformulated to eliminate it; while Vincent's APC is no longer sold. Some others have been judged to contribute too often to substance abuse.

Lenoltec is a compound analgesic that comes in four strengths:

No. Acetaminophen
mg 		Caffine
mg 		Codene
mg 		DIN
1 300 15 8 00653233
2 300 15 15 00653241
3 300 15 30 00653276
4 300 0 60 00621463

Another example is Bex, a once popular Australian compound analgesic which is no longer sold. It contained 42% aspirin, 42% phenacetin, plus caffeine.[2]

The United States Food and Drug Administration also now requires that manufacturers of compound analgesics unequivocally state each ingredient's purpose.

References

  1. ↑ Beaver, William T. (1984). "Combination Analgesics". The American Journal of Medicine. Elsevier BV. 77 (3): 38–53. doi:10.1016/s0002-9343(84)80101-1. ISSN 0002-9343. PMID 6486130.
  2. ↑ Powerhouse Museum. "Packet of Bex Powders". Powerhouse Museum, Australia. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  • APC definition and brief history.
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