General Fioricet Side Effects

Generic fioricet side effects includes drowsiness; dizziness, confusion or lightheadedness; dry mouth; nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite; feeling anxious or jittery;drunk feeling; or headache.

Fioricet (butalbital, acetaminophen, and caffeine) is a combination pain reliever and muscle relaxant used in the treatment of tension headache. Fioricet is available as a generic. The most common side effects of Fioricet are drowsiness, confusion or lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, shortness of breath, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, feeling anxious or jittery, headache, and intoxicated or drunk feeling.

A tablet of Fioricet contains 325 milligrams of acetaminophen, 50 milligrams of butalbital and 40 milligrams of caffeine. Acetaminophen is a pain reliever, butalbital is a barbiturate, and caffeine is a stimulant. The combination of drugs used in Fioricet is also sold under other brand names such as Alagesic, Dolgic, Esgic and Zebutal. All the active ingredients in Fioricet are potentially addictive, especially butalbital.

Physicians usually prescribe Fioricet for headaches caused by muscle contractions. They may also prescribe it for migraine headaches, although the Food and Drug Administration has not indicated it for this purpose. The typical adult dose of Fioricet is one to two tablets every four hours, not to exceed six tablets every 24 hours.

Things to note about Fioricet

Fioricet can be habit-forming, so you should use extreme caution if you decide to take it. Additionally, some people who take barbituates or opioids for extended periods can experience rebound headaches, which can increase in severity. These are also known as MOH, or medication overuse headaches.¹

Barbituates can cause drowsiness, and their effect can be increased by alcohol use. It is important not to drive or use heavy machinery until you know how this drug affects you.

Before taking Fioricet, tell your doctor if you:

• • Are allergic to any ingredients in the medication
  • Are taking blood thinners, antidepressants, antihistamines, or other sedatives like sleeping pills or tranquilizers.
  • Are taking pain medications. Many over-the-counter pain relievers contain acetaminophen, and too much of this drug can be harmful.
  • Have ever had liver disease, porphyria, or depression
  • Are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding

You should begin no medication or supplement without first checking with your health care provider and should let them know of any other prescriptions, OTCs, and herbals you are taking to ensure there are no interactions.

Fioricet is available in tablet form. Total dosage should not exceed 6 tablets. Butalbital is habit-forming. Consequently, the extended use of this product is not recommended. The CNS effects of butalbital may be enhanced by monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. Fioricet may enhance the effects of other narcotic analgesics, alcohol, general anesthetics, and tranquilizers such as chlordiazepoxide, sedative-hypnotics, or other CNS depressants. This product should be given to pregnant women only when clearly needed. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

1. 1. Bleeding or crusting sores on lips
   2. chest pain
   3. fever with or without chills
   4. hive-like swellings (large) on eyelids, face, lips, and/or tongue
   5. muscle cramps or pain
   6. red, thickened, or scaly skin
   7. shortness of breath, troubled breathing, tightness in chest, or wheezing
   8. skin rash, itching, or hives
   9. sores, ulcers, or white spots in mouth (painful)

Symptoms of overdose

1. 1. Anxiety, confusion, excitement, irritability, nervousness, restlessness, or trouble in sleeping (severe, especially with products containing caffeine)
   2. convulsions (seizures) (for products containing caffeine)
   3. diarrhea, especially if occurring together with increased sweating, loss of appetite, and stomach cramps or pain
   4. dizziness, lightheadedness, drowsiness, or weakness, (severe)
   5. frequent urination (for products containing caffeine)
   6. hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there)
   7. increased sensitivity to touch or pain (for products containing caffeine)
   8. muscle trembling or twitching (for products containing caffeine)
   9. nausea or vomiting, sometimes with blood
   10. ringing or other sounds in ears (for products containing caffeine)
   11. seeing flashes of “zig-zag” lights (for products containing caffeine)
   12. shortness of breath or unusually slow or troubled breathing
   13. slow, fast, or irregular heartbeat
   14. slurred speech
   15. staggering
   16. swelling, pain, or tenderness in the upper abdomen or stomach area
   17. unusual movements of the eyes

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

1. 1. Confusion (mild)
   2. mental depression
   3. unusual excitement (mild)

Rare

1. 1. Bloody or black, tarry stools
   2. bloody urine
   3. pinpoint red spots on skin
   4. swollen or painful glands
   5. unusual bleeding or bruising
   6. unusual tiredness or weakness (mild

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

1. 1. Bloated or “gassy” feeling
   2. dizziness or lightheadedness (mild)
   3. drowsiness (mild)
   4. nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain (occurring without other symptoms of overdose)

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Fioricet Overdose?

While Butalbital is the addictive ingredient in Fioricet, Acetaminophen is the ingredient which is liable to cause an overdose. Unfortunately, people who misuse Fioricet as a recreational drug or as a way to suppress withdrawal are most likely to suffer an overdose.

When a person overdoses on Fioricet, the Acetaminophen will damage their liver. In severe cases, an overdose can even provoke fatal liver failure. For this reason, it is dangerous to take Fioricet together with another medication which contains Acetaminophen because it increases the risk of overdose and death. Furthermore, drinking alcohol while taking Fioricet may also inflict liver damage.

A Fioricet overdose is a medical emergency, so it’s important to know the symptoms. An overdose on Fioricet may cause jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes. Other symptoms of an overdose include: