Patient leaflet - Doans Backache Pills
1. What Doans backache is and what it is used for
Both paracetamol and sodium salicylate are analgesic ingredients.
The pills are used to relieve the symptoms of rheumatic aches and pains,
including backaches, sprains, lumbago, fibrositis, muscular aches and pains.
2. What you need to know before you take Doans backache pills
Do not take this medicine and tell your doctor if:
- you are allergic to active substance or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in Section 6)
- you are suffering from a stomach ulcer, or other stomach disorder
- you have gout or haemophilia.
- your child is under 16 years of age
Do not take this medicine if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Doans backache Pills.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Doans Backache Pills if you are asthmatic, pregnant, breast-feeding
Contact your doctor or midwife if the pain and/or fever are not reduced or if you need to take the medicine more often.
During treatment with Doans Backache Pills, tell your doctor straight away if:
If you have severe illnesses, including severe renal impairment or sepsis (when bacteria and their toxins circulate in the blood leading to organ damage), or you suffer from malnutrition, chronic alcoholism or if you are also taking flucloxacillin (an antibiotic). A serious condition called metabolic acidosis (a blood and fluid abnormality) has been reported in patients in these situations when paracetamol is used at regular doses for a prolonged period or when paracetamol is taken together with flucloxacillin. Symptoms of metabolic acidosis may include: serious breathing difficulties with deep rapid breathing, drowsiness, feeling sick (nausea) and being sick (vomiting).
Children and adolescents
There is possible association between Aspirin and Reye’s syndrome when given to children. Reye’s syndrome is a very rare disease, which can be fatal. For this reason aspirin should not be given to children aged under 16 years unless on the advice of a doctor.
Other medicines and Doans Backache Pills
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. Especially:
- anticoagulants (to thin the blood),
- cholestyramine (to treat diarrhoea or lower blood lipid levels),
- metoclopramide (to treat nausea and vomiting),
- probenecid (to treat gout)
- antacids (to treat indigestion).
flucloxacillin (antibiotic), due to a serious risk of blood and fluid abnormality (called metabolic acidosis) that must have urgent treatment (see section 2).
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
You should use the lowest possible dose that reduces your pain and/or your fever and use it for the shortest time possible.
Do not take sodium salicylate if you are in the last 3 months of pregnancy as it could harm your unborn child or cause problems at delivery. It can cause kidney and heart problems in your unborn baby. It may affect your and your baby’s tendency to bleed and cause labour to be later or longer than expected. You should not take sodium salicylate during the first 6 months of pregnancy unless absolutely necessary and advised by your doctor. If you need treatment during this period or while you are trying to get pregnant, the lowest dose for the shortest time possible should be used. If taken for more than a few days from 20 weeks of pregnancy onward, sodium salicylate can cause kidney problems in your unborn baby that may lead to low levels of amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby (oligohydramnios) or narrowing of a blood vessel (ductus arteriosus) in the heart of the baby. If you need treatment for longer than a few days, your doctor may recommend additional monitoring.
Driving and using machines
Do not drive or operate machinery if you feel less alert after taking this medicine.
Information on sodium content
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
3. How to take Doans backache Pills
Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor, pharmacist or nurse has told you. Check with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are not sure.
- Dosage for adults and children over 16: 2 or 3 tablets every 4 hours, swallowed whole with water.
- Do not take more than 16 tablets in 24 hours.
- Not suitable for children under 16 years of age.
- Do not exceed the stated dose.
If you take more Doans backache pills than you should
If you take more Doans backache pills than you should, talk to a doctor or go to a hospital straight away. Immediate medical advice should be sought in the event of an overdose, even if you feel well, because of the risk of delayed, serious liver damage. Do not take with any other paracetamol containing products. The hazards of overdose are greater in those with non-cirrhotic liver disease.
If you forget to take your Doans backache pills
If you forget to take a dose of Doans backache pills, take it as soon as you remember.
Do not take double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Very rarely, allergic reactions, asthma, kidney stones, stomach irritation or bleeding, ringing in the ears, sickness, and blood disorders have been reported. After taking the tablets for extended periods of time, very rare cases for pancreatitis, serious liver and kidney problems have been reported.
Very rare cases of serious skin reactions have been reported.
If the pills make you feel unwell, discontinue use and consult your doctor or
pharmacist.
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data): A serious condition that can make blood more acidic (called metabolic acidosis), in patients with severe illness using paracetamol (see section 2).
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, or pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow card in the Google Play or Apple App store.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine
5. How to store Doans backache
- Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children
- Do not store above 25° C.
- Do not use after this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
- Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Doans Backache Pills contain
Doans Backache Pills are khaki brown coloured tablets each containing paracetamol l50mg and sodium salicylate 100mg.
They also contain microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycollate, colloidal hydrated silica, magnesium stearate, stearic acid, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, polysorbate 80, E171, E172, E464, I.M.S 74 OP BP and purified talc.
This product is available in packs of 24 and 32 Tablets
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacture:
Name and address: Bristol Laboratories Limited,
Unit 3, Canalside, Northbridge Road,
Berkhamsted, Herts, HP4 1EG, UK.
Telephone: 0044 (0)1442 200922
Email: info@bristol-labs.co.uk
Doans backache pills: PL No. 17907/0444
This leaflet was last revised in January 2025
To request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio format, contact the licence holder at the address (or telephone, fax, email) above.