Brand name:
Pronounced: Ek-SED-rin
Generic ingredients: Acetaminophen, Diphenhydramine citrate
Other brand name: Goody's PM
Excedrin P.M. and Goody's PM can be used for temporary relief of occasional headaches and minor aches and pains accompanied by sleeplessness.
Excedrin P.M. is available in tablet, caplet, or geltab form. Goody's PM is a powder.
The usual dose for adults and children 12 and over is 2 pills or 2 powders at bedtime. The powders may be placed on the tongue and washed down with fluid, or stirred into a glass of liquid.
* STORAGE
Store at room temperature.
Unless your doctor approves, do not take this medication if you have high pressure within the eye (glaucoma), an enlarged prostate gland, or a breathing problem such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis.
Do not give to children under 12 without your doctor's approval.
Do not take these products for more than 10 days (3 days for fever) unless your doctor approves. If symptoms continue or get worse, if new ones crop up, or if you have trouble sleeping every night for more than 2 weeks, call your doctor. Sleeplessness sometimes signals a serious illness.
Combined with heavy drinking, the acetaminophen in this medication could conceivably cause liver damage. Check with your doctor about taking these products if you generally have 3 or more alcoholic beverages a day. Do not combine these products with any other medications containing acetaminophen, such as Vicodin, Percocet, and the Tylenol line of products.
Check with your doctor before combining these products with prescription sleep aids such as Ambien and Halcion, over-the-counter diphenhydramine sleep aids such as Nytol, or tranquilizers such as Valium and Xanax. You should also avoid alcoholic beverages while taking this product.
Massive doses of the acetaminophen in these products can cause liver damage. Early signs of acetaminophen overdose include nausea, vomiting, sweating, and general discomfort.
If you suspect an overdose, seek immediate medical attention even if you don't have symptoms. To prevent liver damage, the drug must be cleared from your system quickly.