What were APC pills?

APC (medication): Aspirin, phenacetin, and caffeine (a pill containing all three). Phenacetin was the first nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to be associated with kidney failure.

Are APC tablets still available?

One example is APC (aspirin, phenacetin, and caffeine) compound tablets common from the 1940s to 1983; because of harmful side effects of phenacetin, Anacin in the U.S. was reformulated to eliminate it; while Vincent’s APC is no longer sold.

What was in APC powders?

From the mid-1950s thousands of Australian women swallowed millions of evil-tasting powders carrying the brand names Bex and Vincents. ‘ Their contents, indicated by the generic term APC, were aspirin, phenacetin and caffeine. In combination they were both addictive and deadly.

What is APC ibuprofen?

Description. This medication is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Typically, it is used for pain or to reduce fever. It may also be used for the relief of osteoarthritis, for menstrual pain, as well as for other uses. Its effects can be felt within 1 hour.

Why did they stop making Anacin?

The ban may not take effect for a year or so, but drug-makers, moved by reports of kidney damage and possible cancer after long use and by the threat of FDA action, started removing the chemical two years ago. They have been doing so increasingly in the past few months.

Is APC a pain killer?

This medication is an analgesic. Typically, it is used for pain or to reduce fever. It may also be used for arthritis pain.

What was the gentle relaxer in Cope?

This is methapyrilene, an antihistamine that was long an ingredient of sleep aids like Sominex, Nytol, Compoz, Cope and Exedrin P.M. Lijinsky said in the journal Science that there is strong evidence that methapyrilene, no longer used in the sleep aids, is a powerful cause of cancer in animals.

What kind of drug is phenacetin?

1.2. Phenacetin was used as an analgesic and fever-reducing drug in both human and veterinary medicine for many years. It was introduced into therapy in 1887 and was extensively used in analgesic mixtures until it was implicated in kidney disease (nephropathy) due to abuse of analgesics.

Is phenacetin toxic?

* Phenacetin is a CARCINOGEN–HANDLE WITH EXTREME CAUTION. * High levels can interfere with the ability of the blood to carry Oxygen causing headache, fatigue, dizziness, and a blue color to the skin and lips (methemoglobinemia). Higher levels can cause trouble breathing, collapse and even death.

When were Bex powders banned?

1977
A compound analgesic that comprised aspirin, phenacetin and caffeine produced from the 1920s by Beckers Pty Ltd. All APC compounds were banned in 1977 after the discovery of its harmful effects.