Aspirin/meprobamate explained

Type:	combo
Component1:	Aspirin
Class1:	NSAID
Component2:	Meprobamate
Class2:	Anxiolytic
Tradename:	Equagesic
Pregnancy Us:	X
Legal Us:	Rx-only
Routes Of Administration:	Oral
Cas Number:	8056-21-1
Atc Prefix:	N05
Atc Suffix:	BC51

Aspirin/meprobamate (trade name Equagesic) is a combination drug indicated for short-term pain treatment accompanied by tension or anxiety in patients with musculoskeletal disorders or tension headache.

Combinations

There also appears to be a combination with ethoheptazine, an opioid analgesic.^[1]

Problems

Equagesic was discontinued in the United States, because of its possible toxic effects, specifically of meprobamate.^[2] It was credited with the sudden death of actor Bruce Lee in 1973. Lee suffered a fatal hypersensitive reaction to one of the prescription drug's ingredients while working in Hong Kong.^{[3] [4]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Equagesic . NetDoctor.co.uk . Discontinued in the UK – March 2002 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927173657/http://www2.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/showpreparation.asp?id=945 . 27 September 2007 .
2. Web site: Meprobamate Tablets 400mg – Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) – (emc). 2021-08-09. www.medicines.org.uk.
3. Web site: Chang R . Bruce Lee: The Mystery Surrounding the Martial Artist's Death. 2021-08-09. Biography. 7 June 2020 . en-us.
4. Web site: Bruce Lee. 2021-08-09. Bruce Lee. en-US.