Compound analgesic
A compound analgesic is an analgesic with more than one active ingredient. This includes many of the stronger prescription analgesics.
Common active ingredients used in compound analgesics include:
- aspirin
- paracetamol (acetaminophen)
- codeine or oxycodone
- phenacetin
Once readily available over the counter and in supermarkets, compound analgesics became associated with substance abuse and are now more restricted in many countries. As a result, some once famous brands such as APC and Bex have either disappeared, or have become brands of simple analgesics.
External links
- APC definition and brief history.
- Bex packaging history at the Powerhouse Museum.