Fioricet

What is Fioricet?

Fioricet capsules are made up of acetaminophen as well as butalbital and caffeine. Acetaminophen is a painkiller and a fever-reducing agent. Butalbital is a member of a family of medications known as barbiturates. It reduces the muscle tension that is involved in tension headaches. Caffeine can be described as a central nervous system stimulant. It reduces muscle tension in blood vessels, which improves the flow of blood.Fioricet can be used to treat tension headaches, which are the result of muscle spasms.Repeated and prolonged use of Fioricet is not recommended due to the risk of physical dependence.

Warnings

It is not recommended to take Fioricet if your porphyria is present or if you've recently consumed tranquilizers, alcohol, sedatives, or other narcotic drugs.Avoid using Fioricet if you have taken an MAO inhibitor within the last 14 days.Interaction between drugs could occur. This could result in potentially lethal interactions.MAO inhibitors are isocarboxazid linezolid, methylene blue injection of the phenelzine compound, and tranylcypromine.Do not use more Fioricet than is suggested.Acetaminophen can damage your liver and even lead to the death of individuals. Call your doctor immediately if you notice nausea and discomfort in your stomach area. Itching, lack of appetite, black stools, dark urine, and jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin)Rarely, Acetaminophen may cause an extreme skin reaction. Take a break from Fioricet and consult your doctor immediately if you notice an itch or redness on your skin that spreads and leads to blistering as well as peeling.

Similar or related drugs

Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, Tylenol, Advil, and Motrin

Before you take this drug

Avoid Fioricet if you have taken an MAO inhibitor within 14 days.A drug interaction that is dangerous can occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, and phenelzine. rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine. You shouldn't make use of Fioricet if you are sensitive to the substance, if you suffer from porphyria, or if you've taken sedatives, alcohol, tranquilizers, or other drugs.

To ensure that Fioricet is safe for you, ask your doctor if you've previously had

• The liver, the cirrhosis, the past history of alcoholism or addiction to drugs, or if you consume more than three alcohol-based drinks every day;
• Kidney disease;
• Stomach ulcer or bleeding
• A history of skin rashes that are caused by any medication
• Suicidal ideation or mental illness.

It is unclear if Fioricet could cause harm to a baby who is not yet born. If you are using butalbital when you are pregnant, your baby may become dependent on the medication. This can cause severe withdrawal symptoms in the infant after it is born. Children who are dependent on the habit-forming drug could require medical attention for a period of time.If you are expecting or planning on becoming pregnant, consult with a physician prior to making any decisions regarding pregnancies.Acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine can be found in breast milk and cause harm to nursing babies. Consult your physician if you are breastfeeding a child.Fioricet is not a drug that has been endorsed for use by anyone less than 12 years old.

How to take Fioricet?

Use Fioricet exactly as directed. Follow the directions on the prescription labelDo not exceed the dosage recommended; an overdose could seriously harm or even threaten to kill. Consult your physician in the event that the medication appears to cease working to relieve discomfort.Butalbital can be habit-forming. Don't share this medicine with anyone else, particularly one who has a history of substance addiction or abuse.Hold onto your medication in a place that only you can access, since selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.Place it in a cool, dry place far from heat and moisture.Be aware of the quantity of medicine you take in each bottle. Butalbital is a substance of misuse, and you must be aware of anyone using the medicine in a way that is not legal and without a prescription.

Details on dosage

The Usual Adult Dose for Headache
Butalbital 50 mg, acetaminophen 300 mg, and caffeine 40 mg 1 or 2 capsules, orally every 4 hours, if needed, not exceeding 6 capsules daily.
Uses: To ease the pain of the symptom-related, complicated by tension (or muscle contraction) headache.
Usual Dose for Headache in Children:
12 years and older 12 years of age or older: Butalbital 50 mg, Acetaminophen 300 mg, and Caffeine 40 mg, one or two capsules taken orally every 4 hours, if needed, not exceeding 6 capsules daily.
Comments:
Due to its high rate of physical dependence, long-term use of this medication is not advised.
The safety and effectiveness of treating headaches that are recurring with this product are not yet known.
Uses: To relieve a symptom-related complex tension (or muscle contraction) headache.

What happens if I miss the dose?

Because this medication is only used in the event of need, you might not be following a dose scheduleIf you have a regular medication schedule, take the dose you missed as soon as you recall.Do not take any missed doses if it's nearing the time for the next dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

For medical emergencies, seek emergency treatment or contact the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222. A high dose of acetaminophen or butalbital, as well as caffeine, can cause fatalities.The initial signs of an acetaminophen overdose include a decrease in appetite, nausea, abdominal pains, sweating, and weakness or confusion. Other symptoms could include nausea in your upper abdomen, dark urine, and a yellowing or tingling of your skin or the whites of your eyes.The symptoms of an overdose can be insomnia as well as tension, tremor, diarrhea, irregular heartbeats, seizures (convulsions), or fainting.

What should be avoided?

This medication may result in side effects that can hinder your thinking or reactions. Be aware of this if you are driving or engaging in any activity that requires you to stay conscious and awake.Do not drink alcohol. It can increase the risk of suffering liver damage when taking acetaminophen.Consult a physician or pharmacist before taking any other cold or allergy medication, as well as pain or sleep medicine. Acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as APAP) is a component of several combination medicines. Combining certain medications can result in too much acetaminophen and cause an unfatal overdose. Check the label to determine if the medicine includes acetaminophen or APAP.When you're using this medicine, try not using weight loss pills, caffeine tablets, or any other stimulants (such as ADHD medication) without consulting your physician.

Side effects of Fioricet

Take immediate medical attention. If you are experiencing symptoms that indicate an allergy reaction, Fioricet may include hives, breathing difficulties, or swelling of your lips, face, and tongue.In some rare instances, the acetaminophen drug can trigger an extreme skin reaction that can be life-threatening. Even if you have taken acetaminophen without experiencing adverse side effects before, an adverse reaction could still happen. Do not take this medication and contact your physician right away in the event of the appearance of a skin rash or redness that grows and leads to blisters or the skin peeling. If you have this kind of reaction, it is best not to use any medication that contains acetaminophen.

Stop taking this medicine and contact your doctor immediately if you suffer from:

• Confusion, a seizure;
• Breath shortness;
• Experience lightheadedness as though fainting;
• Nausea, abdomen pain, itching nausea, loss of appetite, urine, stools that are clay-colored, and jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin).

Common side effects of fioricet include:

• Drowsiness, dizziness;
• Feeling lightheaded;
• Nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain;
• Drunk feeling;

This list may not include all possible side effects; other adverse reactions could occur. Please consult with a healthcare provider in regards to adverse reactions; you can report these to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 if any arise.

Interaction with other drug

Combining this medication with other medicines that cause you to sleep or cause breathing problems could cause serious or life-threatening negative side effects. Ask your doctor prior to taking Fioricet along with a sleeping pill, opioid pain medication, or muscle relaxer medication to treat depression, anxiety, depression, or seizures.Other medications can be incompatible with acetaminophen and butalbital, caffeine, medications that are prescribed and available over the counter, vitamins, and herbal products. Discuss with your doctor all the other medications you are taking.