Fioricet : Drug Information

What is Fioricet?

Fioricet is a drug that is a combination of caffeine, butalbital, and acetaminophen. Butalbital is a muscle relaxer that belongs to the group of medications called barbiturate.

Acetaminophen is a pain-relieving medication that can also reduce fever. Finally, caffeine is a CNS stimulant that relaxes muscle contraction in blood vessels and improves blood flow.

This medicine helps treat tension headaches caused by muscle contractions. Doctors can also recommend using Fioricet for other problems not directly related to tension headaches.

Important Information

People with porphyria, or those who have recently used sedatives, alcohol, tranquilizers, or other narcotic medicines.

Try not to use this medication if you have consumed an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. MAO inhibitors can dangerously interact with Fioricet.

Avoid taking more than the recommended quantity of this drug. This medicine’s overdose can damage the liver or result in death. Call the doctor without any delay if you feel nauseated or experience pain in the upper stomach, itching, loss of appetite, jaundice, dark urine, or clay-colored stool.

In some instances, acetaminophen might cause a skin reaction. Stop consuming this drug and call the doctor immediately if you have a skin rash or redness that spreads, causing blisters and peeling.

What to know before taking Fioricet?

Avoid using Fioricet if you have an allergic reaction to caffeine, butalbital, or acetaminophen.

Try to stay clear of this drug if you have any of the following medical conditions:

• A history of medicine-caused skin rash
• Stomach ulcer or bleeding
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• A history of alcoholism or substance abuse
• Sleep apnea, asthma, or other respiratory problems

Doctors don’t recommend using this medicine without consulting a professional if you are pregnant. Using butalbital during pregnancy can make the unborn kid dependent on the drug, causing severe life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. Children born dependent on this medicine might require several weeks of medical treatment to recover from addiction. Try to talk to a doctor before consuming Fioricet when pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

This medicine can pass into the breastmilk and harm the nursing infant. Try to avoid breastfeeding without talking to a healthcare professional if you are using this drug.

How to take Fioricet?

Consume this medication exactly as prescribed by the doctor. Follow the prescription label and the medication guide to achieve the best results. Avoid altering the dose without consulting a doctor because taking more than the recommended quantity can damage your liver or prove to be fatal. Inform the doctor if you don’t seem to feel the pain-relieving effects of this drug.

Butalbital might be habit-forming if used for extended periods, so don’t extend the treatment duration unless your doctor advises you to. Also, try not to share your medication with anyone, especially with people who have a history of substance abuse or addiction. Giving away or selling Fioricet is against the law.

If this drug upsets your stomach, you can try taking it with milk or food.

Store Fioricet at a moistureless and cool place, typically at room temperature.

Keep track of the drug used as it will help you figure out if someone else is using your medicine without your knowledge. Tracking medicine intake will also help prevent you from taking more than the required quantity and avoid an overdose.

Fioricet dosage

This drug’s adequate quantity differs from person to person. A doctor can prescribe the effective Fioricet dose by analyzing the patient’s conditions and checking for the following variables:

• Patient’s age
• The problem to treat
• The severity of the issue
• Other medicines that the patient is taking
• Other medical conditions that the patient might have

After thoroughly analyzing these factors, the doctor prescribes the most beneficial dose, so it is essential not to alter the drug’s quantity to get the best results.

The typical Fioricet dosage is as per the following:

• Use 1-2 tablets every four hours.
• Don’t consume more than six pills in a single day.

Overdose

The following can be the signs of a Fioricet overdose:

• Fainting
• Seizures
• Uneven heartbeats
• Shallow or difficulty breathing
• Diarrhea
• Tremor
• Restlessness
• Insomnia

If any of the symptoms mentioned occur after consuming this drug, immediately reach out to your doctor to call the Poison helpline @ 1-800-222-1222. You can also call 911 or try vising the nearest ER before the problem gets even worse.

You can look for other symptoms that might indicate an overdose, including dark urine, jaundice, upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, weakness, or confusion.

What to avoid while using Fioricet?

Be careful while using Fioricet, as it can cause several side effects that might impair your reactions and thinking. Avoid driving or undertaking any activity that requires sufficient attention.

Try not to drink during the treatment period because alcohol can cause permanent liver damage if mixed with acetaminophen.

Remember to ask the doctor or pharmacist before consuming any cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medicine. Acetaminophen is a prevalent ingredient in many medications, and taking too much of it might result in a fatal overdose.

Also, avoid consuming caffeine pills, diet pills, or stimulant medications without consulting a doctor if you are using this drug.

Fioricet side effects

This medicine can cause severe or mild effects, depending on how much of the drug you are consuming. Often, people don’t experience Fioricet side effects, and sometimes they encounter the severe adverse effects of this medicine. It is crucial to note that people who don’t follow the necessary precautions while using this drug are more prone to its undesirable effects.

Common side effects

• Abdominal pain
• Drowsiness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Shortness of breath

These symptoms usually vanish in a couple of days without any treatment. Still, inform the doctor about these adverse effects.

Serious side effects

• Seizures
• High blood pressure
• Skin changes
• Dehydration
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• White or gray stool
• Stomach pain
• Jaundice
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Itching
• Hives
• Fever
• Rash
• Swelling of throat, mouth, or face

Immediately stop using this medicine if any severe undesirable effects occur. Seek immediate medical attention by calling the doctor or 911 or by vising the nearest ER. Ignoring these side effects might be dangerous, as they can turn life-threatening if not treated in time.

What drugs can interact with Fioricet?

Sleeping pills, opioid pain medications, muscle relaxers, anti-anxiety meds, antidepressants, or seizure medications can adversely interact with Fioricet. When combined with Fioricet, these drugs can make you too sleepy, slow your breathing, or cause dangerous and life-threatening side effects.

Instead of the drugs mentioned above, other over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements can also cause undesirable effects when mixed with this drug. So, tell your doctor about the medications you are using or have recently stopped using.