# Tylenol w/ codeine or hydrocodone, but not aspirin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 12, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tylenol-w-codeine-or-hydrocodone-but-not-aspirin/325933 "2005-10-12T18:49:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tylenol-w-codeine-or-hydrocodone-but-not-aspirin/325933/21 "2005-10-12T23:03:02Z")
> [@M. Meursault](#): > > On the contrary: meet the aptly named [Vicoprofen](http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic2/vicoprofen.htm) Interesting. Thank you. I wonder why nobody I’ve ever known has been prescribed the stuff. It seems like it would be a more effective pain reliever than the alternatives (unless opiates somehow potentiate the effects of asprin and acetaminophen, but not ibuprofen). ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tylenol-w-codeine-or-hydrocodone-but-not-aspirin/325933/22 "2005-10-12T23:09:50Z")
> [@neutron star](#): > > Interesting. Thank you. > > I wonder why nobody I’ve ever known has been prescribed the stuff. It seems like it would be a more effective pain reliever than the alternatives (unless opiates somehow potentiate the effects of asprin and acetaminophen, but not ibuprofen). … which has not been my experience. I’m only one data point, of course, but I always found ibuprofen to be a lot more effective with codeine or hydrocodone than acetaminophen was. (I never tried aspirin, so I can’t comment on that.) ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tylenol-w-codeine-or-hydrocodone-but-not-aspirin/325933/23 "2005-10-12T23:20:42Z")
> [@M. Meursault](#): > > On the contrary: meet the aptly named [Vicoprofen](http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic2/vicoprofen.htm) As was noted, acetaminophen w/codeine is available OTC in Canada. However, unless it has changed recently, codeine w/ ibuprofen is not. Is there a reason? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tylenol-w-codeine-or-hydrocodone-but-not-aspirin/325933/24 "2005-10-12T23:30:18Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > It’s mildly accurate. One can die of aspirin toxicity, but it is easier to die of acetaminophen toxicity. And usually without the warning symptoms that come with aspirin toxicity For what it’s worth, here’s a [link](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000929.html) to Cecil’s column on the dangers on Tylenol. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tylenol-w-codeine-or-hydrocodone-but-not-aspirin/325933/25 "2005-10-13T03:51:25Z")
> [@MyNameIsEarl](#): > > Isn’t it easier to do cold-extraction from acetaminophen than aspirin though? In other words, isn’t it easier to separate the codeine from acetaminophen than aspirin? I mean, anyone with five minutes, and Internet connection and a coffee filter can do that. Yep. I guess the idea is that not many people have that information. Until now. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![elfbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b782af/32.png) [@elfbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfbabe)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tylenol-w-codeine-or-hydrocodone-but-not-aspirin/325933/26 "2005-10-13T04:11:39Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Umm, note the phrasing in the commercials: “plus an extra ingredient that may relieve pain.” Note the “may”. _Consumer Reports_ and similar groups don’t know of any analgesic benefit of caffiene other than some people (but not all) like the extra buzz it gives them. > > If they had proof, they’d drop the “may”. (It’s also funny that after all these decades they never bothered to do their own study about their own claims. Hmmm.) Actually, caffeine does a DAMN good job of curing a headache… provided it’s a headache caused by caffeine withdrawal. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tylenol-w-codeine-or-hydrocodone-but-not-aspirin/325933/27 "2005-10-13T04:26:30Z")
BTW, Synalgos-DC = aspirin/caffeine/dihydrocodeine Darvon Compound-32 and -65 = aspirin/caffeine/propoxyphene (propoxyphene is an opiate). Empirin = aspirin/codeine Lortab ASA (discontinued) = aspirin/hydrocodone Percodan = aspirin/oxycodone I’ve never seen any of these prescribed. They are not in my usual pain control algorithm. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tylenol-w-codeine-or-hydrocodone-but-not-aspirin/325933/28 "2005-10-13T05:01:13Z")
Tylenol over-dose is not just dose dependent. What one has eaten is a factor, as is alcohol or use or other drugs. When a suspected Tylenol OD is admitted, the drug blood level is checked every 6 hours. If the first level is above (brain fart, #—read high) the patient is started on [Mucomyst™](http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic3/acetylcysteine_ids.htm)treatment. > [@](#): > > Acetylcysteine, administered orally, is indicated as an antidote to prevent or lessen hepatic injury which may occur following the ingestion of a potentially hepatotoxic quantity of acetaminophen. > It is essential to initiate treatment as soon as possible after the overdose and, in any case, within 24 hours of ingestion. If the level hasn’t dropped by 1/2 after 12 hours, the chances of liver failure double. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tylenol-w-codeine-or-hydrocodone-but-not-aspirin/325933/29 "2005-10-13T12:25:03Z")
> [@edwino](#): > > BTW, > > Synalgos-DC = aspirin/caffeine/dihydrocodeine Correction: Synalgos DC is aspirin.caffeine.promethazine (unless they changed the formula). I had this prescribed when I had my wisdom teeth extracted (and gums cut). Put me into la-la land. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tylenol-w-codeine-or-hydrocodone-but-not-aspirin/325933/30 "2005-10-13T12:50:03Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > Correction: Synalgos DC is aspirin.caffeine.promethazine (unless they changed the formula) Huh?? 😕 My online Micromedex still has the ingredients as Aspirin, caffiene, and dihydrocodiene. It’s been that way since the mid-80’s at least. It’s plain Synalgos that has the ingredients you describe. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tylenol-w-codeine-or-hydrocodone-but-not-aspirin/325933/31 "2005-10-13T12:51:08Z")
And Synalgos DCA has acetaminophen in place of the aspirin. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tylenol-w-codeine-or-hydrocodone-but-not-aspirin/325933.md?page=1)