The lightest dose among the common OTC options
Anacin combines aspirin with a modest 32 mg of caffeine per tablet, according to its drug label; the standard two-tablet dose carries 64 mg, less than a third of an 8 oz cup of drip coffee at USDA’s reference strength (95 mg). That is noticeably lighter than Excedrin (65 mg a caplet) or Midol Complete (60 mg a gelcap), the two other common over-the-counter products that pair caffeine with a pain reliever.
Why caffeine is in a pain reliever at all
Caffeine is included in products like Anacin as a pain reliever aid, on the theory that it improves the effectiveness of aspirin and similar drugs rather than acting as a stimulant in its own right. At 64 mg a dose, it’s a small enough amount that the boost, if any, comes without much of the alertness effect a full cup of coffee brings.
Counting it alongside everything else
Even though 64 mg is a small dose on its own, it’s easy to overlook when it’s part of a pain reliever rather than a drink. Someone taking a dose of Anacin on top of a normal day’s coffee and tea should still add it to the running total against the 400 mg daily figure the FDA cites for healthy adults, small as it is.
Where it fits against a single dose
A two-tablet dose, 64 mg, is far under the 200 mg single dose EFSA assessed as safe for healthy adults, and under a third of the 200 mg daily ceiling ACOG uses in pregnancy. Check with a doctor before taking any aspirin-containing product during pregnancy, regardless of the caffeine amount.