Fioricet capsules contain a combination of acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine. Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer. Butalbital is in a group of drugs called barbiturates. It relaxes muscle contractions involved in a tension headache. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. It relaxes muscle contractions in blood vessels to improve blood flow.
Fioricet is used to treat tension headaches that are caused by muscle contractions. Extended and repeated use of Fioricet is not recommended because of the potential for physical dependence.
Following the safety instructions and intake recommendations are important during your Fioricet course.
Uses of Fioricet
Fioricet is primarily prescribed for the treatment of tension headaches. It is also sometimes used off-label for migraines, although its efficacy in treating migraines is less well-documented compared to other medications.
Tension Headaches
A study comparing Fioricet to acetaminophen with codeine and placebo found that Fioricet was significantly more effective in relieving pain, emotional or psychic tension, and muscle stiffness or contractions associated with tension headaches.
Migraines
Despite its frequent use, the effectiveness of Fioricet in treating migraines is controversial. A randomized controlled trial found that Fioricet was only marginally superior to placebo for sustained freedom from migraine symptoms over 24 hours, and its overall results were disappointing2.
Efficacy
The efficacy of Fioricet in treating tension headaches has been well-documented. In a multicenter investigation, Fioricet was found to be more effective than both acetaminophen with codeine and placebo in relieving pain and muscle stiffness. However, its efficacy in treating migraines is less clear, with some studies suggesting limited benefits.
- Fioricet Side Effects
Otherwise, a patient may face a risk of dangerous side effects.
Emergency medical help is required for people, who misuse or overuse the headache treatment and experience life-threatening allergic reactions. Thus, you should contact emergency care in case you have noticed swelling of the throat, lips, tongue, or face, breathing disorders, hives, itching or similar disorders.
In rare instances, the components of the drug may lead to fatal skin reactions. Therefore, following Fioricet dosing and individual prescription is inevitable.
Stop the medication intake and contact your healthcare specialist the moment you have any skin rash or redness that is rapidly spreading and triggering peeling and blistering.
We do not suggest you to take Fioricet or Gabapentinfor a long time, you need go to your local health professional to treat your pain without prescription. We think exercising is the best way to relieve your pain. Exercising is a very good methods.
Exercising can enhance your immune system and increase your muscle strength and make your nerve strong.
You can also take some nutrition from food.
A patient should stop Fioricet use and address the doctor in case he/she has got any of the following abnormalities:
- Dark urine, jaundice, nausea, upper stomach discomfort or pain, decreased appetite, clay-colored stools;
- Lightheadedness, confusion;
- Seizures;
- Problems breathing.
Apart from severe adverse reactions, a patient may suffer from mild to moderate disorders, with the most common being:
- Insomnia;
- Feeling drunk;
- Restlessness or anxiety;
- Dizziness and drowsiness, etc.
Contraindications, Warnings and Precautions for the Drug Use
Striving to avoid complications and health disorders, a patient should talk to the doctor beforehand, learning the specifications of Fioricet influence on the organism and safety of its course.
Fioricet is not approved for patients, who are sensitive to any of its ingredients, as well as the ones, who are diagnosed with Porphyria.
The medication is not likely to harm the health of an unborn or nursing child, but it can cause dependency in a fetus if used by a pregnant woman. Life-threatening withdrawal reactions may appear in such an instance.
To eliminate potential risks and get balanced intake recommendations, a patient should inform the doctor about underlying and accompanying disorders and abnormalities he/she has:
- Liver disorders, cirrhosis;
- Alcohol or drug addiction;
- Stomach bleeding or ulcer;
- Sleep apnea, asthma or similar breathing complications;
- Kidney disorders;
- Skin rash and others.
Fioricet side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Fioricet: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
In rare cases, acetaminophen may cause a severe skin reaction that can be fatal. This could occur even if you have taken acetaminophen in the past and had no reaction. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling. If you have this type of reaction, you should never again take any medicine that contains acetaminophen.
Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:
- confusion, seizure (convulsions);
- shortness of breath;
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out; or
- nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
- drowsiness, dizziness;
- feeling anxious or restless;
- drunk feeling; or
- sleep problems (insomnia).
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Fioricet Interactions with Other Medications
It is also necessary to provide the medical specialist with details of any accompanying treatment courses you have.
Certain prescription and over-the-counter drugs, herbal supplements, minerals, and vitamins may interfere with Fioricet launching dangerous outcomes and unwanted reactions.
Fioricet combination with other remedies may promote sleepiness and trigger breathing abnormalities, leading to dangerous, sometimes even fatal outcomes. Tell your doctor if you have recently used any of the following drugs:
- Narcotic pain medications;
- Anxiety, seizure or depression treatments;
- Sleeping pills;
- MAOIs;
- Sedatives and others.