Norgesic Forte Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Norgesic Forte Tablet is a combination prescription medicine containing orphenadrine citrate, aspirin, and caffeine, belonging to the skeletal muscle relaxant combination drug class. It is used along with rest and physical therapy to relieve mild to moderate pain from acute musculoskeletal conditions such as sprains, strains, and muscle injuries. The medicine combines a muscle relaxant, a pain and inflammation reliever, and a stimulant that enhances pain relief. It carries certain warnings and precautions, including risks related to pregnancy, kidney function, and aspirin-related bleeding.

What is Norgesic Forte Tablet

Norgesic Forte is a combination prescription medicine that is used together with rest and physical therapy to treat painful muscular conditions. It contains a muscle relaxant (orphenadrine citrate), a pain and inflammation reliever (aspirin), and a stimulant (caffeine) that boosts the pain-relieving effect.

Norgesic Forte Tablet uses

• Symptomatic relief of mild to moderate pain of acute musculoskeletal disorders
• Used as an add-on to rest, physical therapy, and other measures for discomfort from acute painful muscle, bone, joint, ligament, or tendon conditions

Benefits of Norgesic Forte Tablet

• Relieves mild-to-moderate pain from acute sprains, strains, tension headaches, and low back injuries
• Helps ease the stiffness and discomfort of injured muscles when combined with rest and physical therapy

How Norgesic Forte Tablet works

Orphenadrine acts on the brain and nervous system and is thought to help with pain, though exactly how it works is not fully known. Aspirin reduces pain, swelling, and fever. Caffeine is added because it boosts the pain-relieving effects of aspirin.

Norgesic Forte Tablet dosage

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse. If you use this medicine long-term, you may need frequent medical tests. This medicine is not approved for use by anyone younger than 12 years old. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can, but skip it if it is almost time for your next dose; do not take two doses at one time.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet

Side effects of Norgesic Forte Tablet

Common

• Dry mouth
• Blurred vision or dilated pupils
• Dizziness, drowsiness, weakness
• Headache
• Nausea, vomiting, constipation
• Fast or pounding heartbeat (tachycardia, palpitations)
• Urination hesitancy or retention
• Increased pressure inside the eye

Serious

• Confusion, anxiety, or mild hallucinations (more common in older adults)
• Tremors
• Little or no urination
• Eye pain or vision problems
• A light-headed feeling, like you might pass out
• Gastrointestinal bleeding or black, tarry stools (due to the aspirin component)
• Severe allergic reactions (hives, facial swelling, trouble breathing)
• Reye's syndrome risk in children or teens with a viral infection or fever
• Serious skin reactions, including DRESS (fever, rash, swollen glands, facial swelling)
• A rare case of aplastic anemia has been reported, though a direct link to the medicine was not proven

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use this medicine if you have glaucoma, a blockage in your digestive tract, a bladder blockage or trouble urinating, an enlarged prostate, myasthenia gravis, achalasia, or an allergy to aspirin, caffeine, or orphenadrine.
• Do not give this medicine to anyone with a fever, flu symptoms, or chickenpox because the aspirin in it can cause Reye's syndrome, a serious and sometimes fatal condition.
• This medicine should be used with great care if you have a history of peptic ulcers or a bleeding or clotting disorder, since aspirin can increase bleeding risk.
• This medicine is not approved for use in children under 12 years old.
• Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using other pain, fever, swelling, or cold/flu medicines, since they may also contain aspirin or similar ingredients.
• This medicine should be avoided in later pregnancy, especially from around 20 to 30 weeks onward, because it can affect the baby's heart vessel closure and kidney function. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy.
• Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding before taking this medicine.
• Aspirin may worsen kidney function, particularly in patients with dehydration, existing kidney disease, or concurrent use of certain medications.
• If you take this medicine long-term, your doctor may want to check your liver function with periodic blood tests.
• Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine, as it can increase drowsiness and slow down your nervous system.
• Avoid driving or doing anything dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you, since it can impair your reactions.

Storage

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat
• Store at 20°-25°C (68°-77° F) (see USP Controlled Room Temperature)
• Protect from moisture

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency medical help right away if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor right away if you have confusion, anxiety, fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, tremors, little or no urination, eye pain, vision problems, or feel like you might pass out.
• Stop taking this medicine and get emergency help right away if you develop a rash, fever, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, seek emergency medical attention right away or contact your local poison control center.

Alternatives

• Ibuprofen
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Methocarbamol