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Fioricet is a tension headache medicine.
50 mg butalbital, 325 mg acetaminophen, and 40 mg caffeine |
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November, 1984 - Fioricet approved by FDA |
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November, 2003 - Fioricet acquired by Watson Pharma (press release) |
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Designed for tension headache relief (but not tested for migraines) |
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| Unscheduled by the DEA as a controlled substance |
Summary. Fioricet is effective for tension-type headaches, but there are no clinical trials for Fioricet relative to migraine headaches. Patients comment on the net suggest that Fioricet can be helpful with migraines, but the results are a mixed bag. Fioricet has its share of negative qualities. First is the rebound headaches, which many Fioricet users have reported. Second is the potential for addiction. Germany has taken measures to ban Fioricet and any drug containing butalbital. In contrast, Fioricet is legal in the United States and is not controlled by the DEA.
Teri Robert at About.com's Migraine/Headache Section reports the following: Medications containing butalbital, aspirin, acetaminophen, and/or caffeine are used by many "headachers" for tension-type headache (TTH) and migraine. They have been shown to be effective in placebo-controlled trials conducted with TTH patients, but have not been studied in placebo-controlled trials with Migraineurs.
The use of analgesics containing Butalbital is controversial. Fioricet is banned in Germany, and expert advisory panels elsewhere have warned of their potential for abuse. Some experts warn that butalbital is likely to lead to rebound headache and/or dependence and question whether their benefit outweighs these problems. Teri Robert's comment: "Butalbital-containing analgesics [Fioricet] may be effective as backup medications or when other medications are ineffective or cannot be used. Because of concerns about overuse, medication-overuse headache, and withdrawal, Fioricet use should be limited and carefully monitored."
PDR states the most important thing to know about Fioricet is "Mental and physical dependence can occur with the use of barbiturates such as Fioricet when taken in higher than recommended doses over long periods of time." PDR also notes: "Fioricet's active ingredient, Butalbital, slows the central nervous system (CNS) and intensifies the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants. Use of alcohol with Fioricet may also cause overdose symptoms. Avoid alcoholic beverages while taking Fioricet."
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