Synalgos-DC

Generic name: Dihydrocodeine, Aspirin, and Caffeine [ dye-hye-droe-KOE-deen, AS-pir-in, & KAF-een ]
Drug class: Narcotic analgesic combinations

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 2, 2024.

Uses of Synalgos-DC:

• It is used to ease pain.

What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take Synalgos-DC?

For all patients taking Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine):

• If you have an allergy to dihydrocodeine, aspirin, caffeine, or any other part of Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine).
• If you have an allergy to aspirin or NSAIDs.
• If you have gotten nasal polyps or had swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat; unusual hoarseness; or trouble breathing with aspirin or NSAID use.
• If you are allergic to Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine); any part of Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine); or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
• If you have any of these health problems: Lung or breathing problems like asthma, trouble breathing, or sleep apnea; high levels of carbon dioxide in the blood; or stomach or bowel block or narrowing.
• If you have any of these health problems: Kidney disease or liver disease.
• If you have hemophilia.
• If you have Reye's syndrome.
• If you have ever had stomach or bowel ulcers.
• If you are taking any of these drugs: Buprenorphine, butorphanol, nalbuphine, or pentazocine.
• If you have taken certain drugs for depression or Parkinson's disease in the last 14 days. This includes isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, selegiline, or rasagiline. Very high blood pressure may happen.
• If you are taking any of these drugs: Linezolid or methylene blue.
• If you are taking probenecid.
• If you are taking any other NSAID.
• If you are taking a steroid.
• If you have been told by your doctor that you are a rapid metabolizer of some drugs.
• If you are pregnant or may be pregnant. Do not take Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine) if you are in the third trimester of pregnancy. You may also need to avoid Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine) at other times during pregnancy. Talk with your doctor to see when you need to avoid taking Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine) during pregnancy.
• If you are breast-feeding. Do not breast-feed while you take Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine).

Children:

• If your child has or is getting better from flu signs, chickenpox, or other viral infections.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine).

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine) with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take Synalgos-DC?

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine). This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert until you see how Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine) affects you.
• To lower the chance of feeling dizzy or passing out, rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down. Be careful going up and down stairs.
• Do not take Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine) with other strong pain drugs or if you are using a pain patch without talking to your doctor first.
• You may bleed more easily. Be careful and avoid injury. Use a soft toothbrush and an electric razor.
• Limit your use of caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, cola) and chocolate. Use with Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine) may cause nervousness, shakiness, and a fast heartbeat.
• Taking an opioid drug like Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine) may lead to a rare but very bad adrenal gland problem. Call your doctor right away if you have very bad dizziness or passing out, very bad upset stomach or throwing up, or if you feel less hungry, very tired, or very weak.
• Long-term use of an opioid drug may lead to lower sex hormone levels. Call your doctor if you have a lowered interest in sex, fertility problems, no menstrual period (women), or change in sex ability (men).
• This medicine may raise the chance of seizures in some people, including people who have had seizures in the past. Talk to your doctor to see if you have a greater chance of seizures while taking Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine).
• Very bad stomach ulcers or bleeding can happen with Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine). Taking it in high doses or for a long time, smoking, or drinking alcohol raises the chance of these side effects. Taking Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine) with food will not lower the chance of these effects. Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you get very bad stomach or back pain; black, tarry, or bloody stools; throwing up blood or throw up that looks like coffee grounds; or weight gain or swelling that is not normal.
• If you are 65 or older, use Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine) with care. You could have more side effects.
• Do not give to children and teenagers who have or are getting better from flu signs, chickenpox, or other viral infections due to the chance of Reye's syndrome. Reye's syndrome causes very bad problems to the brain and liver.
• The chance of very bad side effects may be higher in children. This may be more likely to happen in children who have breathing problems. Deadly breathing problems have happened with the use of codeine in some children. Talk with the doctor.
• This medicine may cause harm to the unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant. If you are pregnant or you get pregnant while taking Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine), call your doctor right away.

How is this medicine (Synalgos-DC) best taken?

Use Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine) as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• Take with or without food. Take with food if it causes an upset stomach.
• Take with a full glass of water.
• If you have been taking Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine) for a long time or at high doses, it may not work as well and you may need higher doses to get the same effect. This is known as tolerance. Call your doctor if Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine) stops working well. Do not take more than ordered.
• Long-term or regular use of opioid drugs like Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine) may lead to dependence. Lowering the dose or stopping Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine) all of a sudden may cause a greater risk of withdrawal or other severe problems. Talk to your doctor before you lower the dose or stop Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine). You will need to follow your doctor’s instructions. Tell your doctor if you have more pain, mood changes, thoughts of suicide, or any other bad effects.
• If you are taking aspirin to help prevent a heart attack, talk with your doctor.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• If you take Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine) on a regular basis, take a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.
• Many times Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine) is taken on an as needed basis. Do not take more often than told by the doctor.

Related/similar drugs

acetaminophen, tramadol, cyclobenzaprine, naproxen, oxycodone, Tylenol

What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of kidney problems like unable to pass urine, change in how much urine is passed, blood in the urine, or a big weight gain.
• Signs of high potassium levels like a heartbeat that does not feel normal; feeling confused; feeling weak, lightheaded, or dizzy; feeling like passing out; numbness or tingling; or shortness of breath.
• Weakness on 1 side of the body, trouble speaking or thinking, change in balance, drooping on one side of the face, or blurred eyesight.
• Very bad dizziness or passing out.
• Trouble breathing, slow breathing, or shallow breathing.
• Noisy breathing.
• Feeling very sleepy.
• Feeling confused.
• Chest pain or pressure or a fast heartbeat.
• Seizures.
• Very bad belly pain.
• Very bad constipation.
• Feeling very tired or weak.
• Any unexplained bruising or bleeding.
• Ringing in ears.
• Hearing loss.
• Mood changes.
• A severe and sometimes deadly problem called serotonin syndrome may happen if you take Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine) with certain other drugs. Call your doctor right away if you have agitation; change in balance; confusion; hallucinations; fever; fast or abnormal heartbeat; flushing; muscle twitching or stiffness; seizures; shivering or shaking; sweating a lot; severe diarrhea, upset stomach, or throwing up; or severe headache.

What are some other side effects of Synalgos-DC?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Constipation.
• Dizziness.
• Feeling sleepy.
• Headache.
• Upset stomach or throwing up.
• Feeling tired or weak.
• Stomach pain.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

How do I store and/or throw out Synalgos-DC?

• Store at room temperature.
• Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• This medicine comes with an extra patient fact sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it with care. Read it again each time Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine) is refilled. If you have any questions about Synalgos-DC (dihydrocodeine, aspirin, and caffeine), please talk with the doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer