Compound analgesic

{{Short description|Analgesics with multiple ingredients}}

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:

• aspirin or ibuprofen
• caffeine
• codeine or oxycodone
• paracetamol (acetaminophen)
• phenacetin

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.{{cite journal | last=Beaver | first=William T. |authorlink=William T. Beaver | title=Combination Analgesics | journal=The American Journal of Medicine | publisher=Elsevier BV | volume=77 | issue=3 | year=1984 | issn=0002-9343 | doi=10.1016/s0002-9343(84)80101-1 | pages=38–53| pmid=6486130 }}

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.{{fact|date=October 2013}}

{{Anchor|Lenoltec}}

Lenoltec is a compound analgesic that comes in four strengths:

class="wikitable"
No. ! Acetaminophen mg ! Caffeine mg ! Codeine mg ! DIN
align="center" |1 | align="center" |300 | align="center" |15 | align="center" |8 ! 00653233 [https://www.tevacanada.com/en/canada/our-products/product-page/lenoltecno.1-00653233]
align="center" |2 | align="center" |300 | align="center" |15 | align="center" |15 ! 00653241 [https://www.tevacanada.com/en/canada/our-products/product-page/lenoltecno.2-00653241]
align="center" |3 | align="center" |300 | align="center" |15 | align="center" |30 ! 00653276 [https://www.tevacanada.com/en/canada/our-products/product-page/lenoltecno.3-00653276]
align="center" |4 | align="center" |300 | align="center" |0 | align="center" |60 ! 00621463 [https://www.tevacanada.com/en/canada/our-products/product-page/lenoltecno.4-00621463]

Another example is Bex, a once popular Australian compound analgesic which is no longer sold. It contained 42% aspirin, 42% phenacetin, plus caffeine.{{cite web |url=http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=340661 |title=Packet of Bex Powders |author=Powerhouse Museum |accessdate=10 July 2011 |publisher=Powerhouse Museum, Australia}}

The United States Food and Drug Administration also now requires that manufacturers of compound analgesics unequivocally state each ingredient's purpose.{{fact|date=October 2013}}