Brand & Generic Names

Parafon Forte

Basic Information

• Habit forming? Possibly
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? Yes
• Drug class: Muscle relaxant, analgesic, fever-reducer

Uses

• Adjunctive treatment to rest, analgesics and physical therapy for muscle spasms.
• Treatment of mild to moderate pain and fever.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet--Swallow with liquid.

When to take:
As needed, no more often than every 3 hours.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember. Wait 3 hours for next dose.

What drug does:
Blocks body's pain messages to brain. Also causes sedation.
May affect hypothalamus, the part of the brain that helps regulate body heat and receives body's pain messages.

Time lapse before drug works:
15 to 30 minutes. May last 4 hours.

Don't take with:
Other drugs with acetaminophen. Too much acetaminophen can damage liver and kidneys.
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, headache, severe weakness, unusual increase in sweating, fainting, breathing difficulty, irritability, convulsions, sensation of paralysis, coma.

WHAT TO DO:

• Overdose unlikely to threaten life. Depending on severity of symptoms and amount taken, call doctor, poison-control center or hospital emergency room for instructions.
• Dial 911 (emergency) or O (operator) for an ambulance or medical help. Then give first aid immediately.
• See EMERGENCY Information.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

Hives, rash, intense Seek emergency itching, faintness treatment immediately. soon after a dose (anaphylaxis); extreme weakness, transient paralysis, temporary loss of vision.

Common:

Dizziness, lightheadedness, drowsiness.

Infrequent:

• Difficult or frequent urination, severe back pain, cloudy urine.
• Nervousness, restless- ness, irritability, headache, indigestion, depression, agitation, constipation, tiredness, weakness.

Rare:

• Sudden decrease in urine output; swelling of lips, face or tongue.
• Bloody or black stools, jaundice, unusual bleeding or bruising, sore mouth or throat, fever, hiccups, skin rash, hives.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:

• You are allergic to any skeletal muscle relaxant or acetaminophen.
• Your symptoms don't improve after 2 days' use. Call your doctor.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have had liver disease.
• If you have kidney disease or liver damage.
• If you plan pregnancy within medication period.
• If you are allergic to tartrazine dye.

Over age 60:

• Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and severe than in younger persons.
• Don't exceed recommended dose. You can't eliminate drug as efficiently as younger persons.

Pregnancy:
Safety not proven. Avoid if possible. Consult doctor.

Breast-feeding:
Drug passes into milk. Avoid drug or discontinue nursing until you finish medicine. Consult doctor for advice on maintaining milk supply.

Infants & children:
Not recommended.

Prolonged use:

• May affect blood system and cause anemia. Limit use to 5 days for children 12 and under, and 10 days for adults.
• Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check complete blood counts (white blood cell count, platelet count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit), liver function.

Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
Don't drive or pilot aircraft until you learn how medicine affects you. Don't work around dangerous machinery. Don't climb ladders or work in high places. Danger increases if you drink alcohol or take medicine affecting alertness and reflexes, such as antihistamines, tranquilizers, sedatives, pain medicine, narcotics and mind-altering drugs.

Discontinuing:
Don't discontinue without consulting your doctor. Dose may require gradual reduction if you have taken drug for a long time. Doses of other drugs may also require adjustment.

Others:
Periodic liver-function tests recommended if you use this drug for a long time.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Anticoagulants*,	May increase anti-
oral	coagulant effect. If combined
	frequently, prothrombin time should
	be monitored.
Antidepressants*	Increased sedation.
Antihistamines*	Increased sedation.
Clozapine	Toxic effect on the central nervous
	system.
Dronabinol	Increased effect of dronabinol on
	central nervous system. Avoid
	combination.
MAO inhibitors*	Increased effect (but safety not
	established) of both drugs.
Mind-altering drugs*	Increased sedation.
Muscle relaxants,	Increased sedation.
Narcotics*	Increased sedation.
Phenobarbital	Quicker elimination and decreased
	effects of acetaminophen.
Sedatives*	Increased sedation.
Sertraline	Increased depressive effects of
	both drugs.
Sleep inducers*	Increased sedation.
Tetracyclines*	May slow tetracycline
(effervescent	absorption. Space
granules or tablets)	doses 2 hours apart.
Tranquilizers*	Increased sedation.
Zidovudine	Increased toxicity of zidovudine.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	Drowsiness, increased sedation.
	Long-term use may cause toxic
	effect in liver.
Beverages:	No problems expected.
Cocaine:	Lack of coordination. May slow
	body's recovery. Avoid.
Foods:	No problems expected.
Marijuana:	Increased pain relief, lack of
	coordination, drowsiness, fainting.
	May slow body's recovery. Avoid.
Tobacco:	No problems expected.