Excedrin and Salonpas Pain Patch with Capsaicin

• Generic Name: acetaminophen / aspirin / caffeine
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Anacin Advanced Headache Formula, Arthriten, Backaid IPF, Excedrin, Goody's Headache Powders, Pain Reliever Plus, Pamprin Max, Goodys Extra Strength, Uricalm Intensive, Genace, Excedrin Geltab, Supac, Excedrin Migraine, Excedrin Extra Strength, Excedrin Extra Strength Geltab, Excedrin Migraine Geltab, Excedrin Express, Excedrin Menstrual Express, Bayer Migraine Formula, Goodys Headache Powders, Vanquish

Excedrin contains a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine. Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and a fever reducer. Aspirin is in a group of drugs called salicylates. It works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain, fever, and inflammation. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. It relaxes muscle contractions in blood vessels to improve blood flow.

Excedrin is used to treat pain caused by tension headaches, migraine headaches, muscle aches, menstrual cramps, arthritis, toothaches, the common cold, or nasal congestion.

Excedrin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

• Generic Name: capsaicin topical
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Capsicum Oleoresin, Capsin, Capzasin Back and Body, Capzasin-HP, Capzasin-P, Castiva Warming, Icy Hot PM, Icy Hot with Capsaicin, Menthac Arthritis Cream with Capsaicin, Qutenza, Salonpas Gel-Patch, Salonpas Pain Patch with Capsaicin, Sloan's Liniment, Trixaicin, Zostrix, Capzasin-P, Theragen HP, Zostrix Arthritis Pain Relief, Zostrix Foot Pain Relief, Zostrix HP

Capsaicin is the active ingredient in chili peppers that makes them hot. Capsaicin is used in medicated creams and lotions to relieve muscle or joint pain.

Capsaicin used on the body causes a sensation of heat that activates certain nerve cells. With regular use of capsaicin, this heating effect reduces the amount of substance P, a chemical that acts as a pain messenger in the body.

Salonpas Pain Patch with Capsaicin is used for temporary relief of muscle or joint pain caused by strains, sprains, arthritis, bruising, or backaches. This medicine is also used to treat nerve pain (neuralgia) in people who have had herpes zoster, or "shingles."

Salonpas Pain Patch with Capsaicin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.