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.