What is Fioricet?

Fioricet contains a combination of acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine.

Each tablet contains the following active ingredients:

    • butalbital USP . . . . . . . . . . . .50 mg
    • acetaminophen USP . . . . . . 325 mg
    • caffeine USP . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 mg

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.

What Are The Ingredients In Fioricet?

A Combination Medication is a drug which includes two or more pharmaceutical ingredients in a fixed dose. There are three ingredients in standard Fioricet: Acetaminophen, Butalbital, and Caffeine. All three ingredients have different effects which combine to soothe headaches.

  • Acetaminophen is a medication which alleviates pain and reduces fever. It’s more widely known by the brand name Tylenol. Acetaminophen works by impairing the production of the prostaglandin chemical in the brain. This chemical activates pain signals in the nervous system.
  • Butalbital is a Sedative Barbiturate which stimulates the brain’s production of GABA. This neurotransmitter calms the nervous system by blocking signals among neurons. It also relaxes muscle tension in the head, thereby alleviating headaches. Butalbital is a Schedule III controlled substance in the United States.
  • Caffeine is a Stimulant which raises a person’s blood pressure. While high blood pressure is not necessarily healthy, low blood pressure worsens headaches by causing blood vessels to expand and push against the brain. By raising blood pressure, Caffeine causes blood vessels to constrict and increases blood flow. This effect helps relieve headaches.

With these three ingredients at work, Fioricet can be an effective source of headache relief. However, the medication also poses risks for side effects, overdose, and addiction. For this reason, doctors usually refrain from prescribing Fioricet until safer over-the-counter medications fail to help their patients.

Fioricet is used to treat tension headaches that are caused by muscle contractions.

The combination of drugs sold under the brand name Fioricet can help to manage the severe pain and disability that comes with tension headaches.

While Fioricet can be an effective and life-changing medication for people suffering from tension headaches, there is also the risk of Fioricet abuse or addiction. It’s important to consider the possible side effects and risks of using Fioricet to determine if this drug is right for you.

What is Fioricet?

People who suffer from tension headaches may receive a prescription of Fioricet. Fioricet includes three different drug ingredients that can help manage different symptoms of tension headaches. These include:

  • Butalbital: A type of barbiturate that can help muscle relaxation.
  • Acetaminophen: Also called paracetamol (sold as Tylenol) and helps to relieve pain.
  • Caffeine: Enhances the effects of acetaminophen.

The ingredients of Fioricet help to address pain specifically or can help to enhance the effects of the painkillers. Some types of Fioricet include codeine, which is an opiate used to treat pain. This can increase the effect of Fioricet, but also increase some of the risks for misuse or addiction.

Is Fioricet a Controlled Substance?

Fioricet is a controlled substance, which means that it requires a prescription and cannot be purchased over the counter. Fioricet can only be prescribed a certain number of times following a Fioricet prescription schedule. This is to avoid abuse or dependence and to reduce the risk of addiction.

Alternative Names for Fioricet

The combination of butalbital, acetaminophen and caffeine has been formulated by different pharmaceutical brands and can be known by different names in different places.

The combination of butalbital, acetaminophen and caffeine has been formulated by different pharmaceutical brands and can be known by different names in different places.

  • Brand Names: The combination of butalbital, acetaminophen and caffeine is sold under other brand names, as well as Fioricet. These include Americet, Ezol and Alagesic among others.
  • Generic Names: Fioricet may be referred to as the generic names of the drugs combination (butalbital, acetaminophen and caffeine)
  • Street Names: There are few known street names for Fioricet that does not contain codeine, as it is lower risk for abuse and addiction. Barbiturates, a drug component of Fioricet, may be referred to simply as Barbs.

Fioricet with Codeine

Fioricet with Codeine may be used in cases where stronger pain management of tension headaches is required. Fioricet with Codeine can be beneficial for people struggling to manage their pain, but comes with a higher risk of abuse and the potential for dangerous side effects. Fioricet with Codeine is also a controlled substance, and is prescribed carefully to avoid dependence or misuse.

Fiorinal vs. Fioricet

Fiorinal and Fioricet are similar medications. However, the pain-killing medication included differs between the two. While Fioricet contains acetaminophen, Fiorinal contains aspirin. Both of these drugs are useful for managing pain and fever, but some people may respond better to one than the other.