Orphengesic Forte is a combination medication that contains orphenadrine, aspirin, and caffeine. It can be used for muscle, bone, joint, or tendon pain relief. It has some serious risks, like stomach bleeding and ulcers, because of the aspirin in the medication.
Mild-to-moderate muscle, bone, joint, or tendon pain
Orphengesic Forte is a combination of three medications to help relieve pain.
Orphenadrine is a muscle relaxant. It's unclear how the medication works, but it's thought to work in your nervous system (brain) and not directly on specific parts of your body. It affects how your body reacts to pain.
Aspirin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It works by blocking proteins in your body that cause pain and swelling.
Caffeine is an adenosine antagonist. It blocks the activity of a natural chemical in the body called adenosine. It's unclear how exactly caffeine works in the setting of pain, but it's thought to boost the pain-relieving activity of aspirin.
Source: DailyMed
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
Combines three medications into a single tablet for convenience
Works well to relieve pain
Isn't an opioid
Not a controlled medication (meaning there is a low potential for abuse)
Needs to be taken multiple times a day
Safety of continuous long-term use isn't known
Can't be used in children under 12 years old
Need to limit caffeine while taking it
If you're only taking half a tablet, you can purchase a pill splitter from your local pharmacy and align the blade with the scored line to safely cut the tablet in half. Don't split tablets with a knive to prevent harming yourself.
Many over-the-counter and prescription medications contain aspirin. Don't take more than a total of 4 grams of aspirin per day to avoid stomach side effects, and take it for the shortest time possible. Talk to your provider if you're unsure which medications contain aspirin.
Orphengesic Forte can affect your ability to focus, think, and react. Avoid activities that require your concentration, like driving a car or operating machinery, until you know how this medication affects you.
If you're 65 years or older, you might be more likely to feel the side effects of Orphengesic Forte and be at higher risk of an overdose. To lower your risk of side effects, ask your healthcare provider for alternatives for pain relief that are safer for you.
Overdose symptoms include hallucinations, confusion, less awareness of your surroundings, and flushed, dry skin. If you experience any of these serious symptoms, stop taking Orphengesic Forte and get medical help right away.
Orphengesic Forte can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk factors: History of stomach bleeding or ulcers | History of bleeding problems | Taking other NSAIDs, blood thinners, or oral corticosteroids at the same time | Alcohol use | Age 60 years or older | Taking Orphengesic Forte for a long time | Taking higher doses of Orphengesic Forte than instructed
Orphengesic Forte can irritate your stomach or intestines, which can feel like stomach pain or heartburn. It can also lead to serious stomach problems, including swelling, bleeding, and ulcers in the stomach or intestines. The risk of bleeding is higher if you're taking blood thinners like warfarin (Coumadin) or oral corticosteroids with Orphengesic Forte, because they can also cause bleeding. If you have stomach pain that doesn't get better, vomit blood or bits that look like coffee grounds, or have bloody or black, tarry stools, let your provider know right away. These might be signs of stomach bleeding or a stomach ulcer.
Risk factors: At 20 weeks or later in pregnancy
If you're at least 20 weeks along in your pregnancy, Orphengesic Forte can cause harm to your unborn baby. It can affect your baby's kidneys and the amount of fluid in your belly (amniotic fluid). At 30 weeks of pregnancy or later, Orphengesic Forte can cause heart defects in your unborn baby. Ask your healthcare provider about alternative medications that are safer for you to take for your pain symptoms.
Risk factors: Teenagers recovering from chicken pox, flu, or flu-like symptoms
Using Orphengesic Forte in teenagers who have or are recovering from chicken pox or flu-like symptoms could lead to a rare, life-threatening condition called Reye's syndrome. Early symptoms of this condition include nausea, vomiting, headache, confusion, and other changes in behavior, but it can lead to liver damage and brain swelling. Let your child's provider know if your child experiences changes in their behavior with nausea or vomiting, or unusually low energy. Get medical help right away if your child experiences confusion, loss of consciousness, or a seizure.
Although rare, Orphengesic Forte can cause life-threatening allergic or skin reactions, such as fever, facial swelling, reddening or peeling of the skin, painful rash, or fluid-filled blisters. If you experience any of these symptoms, stop taking Orphengesic Forte and go to the emergency room right away.
Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
---|---|---|---|
50mg/770mg/60mg | 30 tablets | $971.40 | $32.38 |
The typical dose is ½ to 1 tablet by mouth three to four times every day. Each tablet contains 50 mg of orphenadrine, 770 mg of aspirin, and 60 mg of caffeine.
Glaucoma
Blockage of the stomach, intestines, or other regions of the digestive tract
Enlarged prostate or bladder issues
Myasthenia gravis (nerve condition that affects your muscles and movement)
Severe allergic reaction to aspirin or other NSAIDs
Sensitivity to caffeine
Mild-to-moderate muscle, bone, joint, or tendon pain
Muscle discomfort caused by acute (not long-term) conditions
Muscle spasms from multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries in people ages 12 years and older
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