FIORICET DRUG INFO

IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before using Fioricet.

BUTALBITAL/ACETAMINOPHEN/CAFFEINE - ORAL (byou-TAL-bih-tall/uh-seet-uh-MEE-no-fen/kaff-EEN)

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Esgic, Fioricet

FIORICET USES: Fioricet is a pain reliever and sedative. It is used to relieve mild to moderate pain and tension headaches.

HOW TO USE FIORICET: To prevent upset stomach, take Fioricet with food or milk. Pain medications work best in preventing pain before it occurs. Once the pain becomes intense, the medication is not as effective in relieving it. Take Butalbital as prescribed. Do not increase your dose or take it more frequently without your doctor's approval.

FIORICET SIDE EFFECTS: Fioricet may cause lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, stomach upset, nausea, and sleeping disturbances the first few days as your body adjusts to the medication. If these symptoms persist or become bothersome, inform your doctor. Notify your doctor immediately if you develop: a rapid/ irregular heartbeat. An allergic reaction to Fioricet is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs.

FIORICET PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: serious liver disease, alcohol or narcotic dependence, emotional/mental conditions, heart disease (arrhythmias, recent MI), stomach/intestinal ulcers, any allergies. Acetaminophen may cause liver damage. Daily use of alcohol, especially when combined with acetaminophen, may increase your risk for liver damage. Check with your doctor or pharmacist for more information. To prevent oversedation, avoid using alcohol and other sedative type medications while taking this. Fioricet (Butalbital) may make you dizzy or drowsy; use caution engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery. Avoid alcoholic beverages. This medication contains caffeine. Avoid drinking large amounts of caffeinated beverages while taking Butalbital as excessive nervousness and irritability can occur. Fioricet should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

ALLERGIES: Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to barbiturates or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods dyes, preservatives, or animals.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction to Fioricet include: itching, rash, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing. If you notice these or any other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

GERIATRIC: Certain side effects, such as confusion, excitement, or mental depression, may be especially likely to occur in elderly patients, who are usually more sensitive than younger adults to the effects of the butalbital in this combination medicine.

NURSING MOTHERS: Fioricet (butalbital), Caffeine, and acetaminophen are excreted in breast milk in small amounts, but the significance of their effects on nursing infants is not known. Because of potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from Fioricet, butalbital, acetaminophen, and caffeine, it is recommended to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding while taking Fioricet

FIORICET DRUG INTERACTIONS: Tell your doctor of all prescription and nonprescription drugs you may use, especially of: "blood thinners" Tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription drugs you may use that cause drowsiness such as: medicine for sleep (e.g., sedatives), tranquilizers, anti-anxiety drugs (e.g., diazepam), narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine, or tricyclics such as amitriptyline), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., carbamazepine), muscle relaxants, antihistamines that cause drowsiness (e.g., diphenhydramine). Because Fioricet contains acetaminophen, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking other medications containing acetaminophen which is commonly found in nonprescription pain relievers and cough-and-cold products. Read labels carefully to check ingredients. Fioricet may interfere with the effectiveness of birth control pills. Discuss using other methods of birth control with your doctor. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.

FIORICET OVERDOSE: If overdose of Fioricet is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include vomiting, unusual drowsiness, lack of feeling alert, slow or shallow breathing, cold or clammy skin, loss of consciousness, dark urine, stomach pain, and extreme fatigue.


MISSED FIORICET DOSE: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as remembered; do not take if it is almost time for the next dose, instead, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not "double-up" the dose to catch up.

FIORICET STORAGE: Store Fioricet (Butalbital) at room temperature away from moisture and sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom.

FIORICET ABUSE AND DEPENDENCE: Fioricet (Butalbital) is a barbiturate. Barbiturates may be habit-forming: Tolerance, psychological dependence, and physical dependence may occur especially following prolonged use of high doses of Fioricet. The average daily dose for the Fioricet addict is usually about 1500 mg. As tolerance to Fioricet develops, the amount needed to maintain the same level of intoxication increases; tolerance to a fatal dosage, however, does not increase more than two-fold. As this occurs, the margin between an intoxication dosage and fatal dosage becomes smaller. The lethal dose of Fioricet is far less while consuming alcohol. Major withdrawal symptoms (convulsions and delirium) may occur within 16 hours and last up to 5 days after abrupt cessation of Fioricet/Butalbital. Intensity of withdrawal symptoms gradually declines over a period of approximately 15 days. Typically, treatment of barbiturate dependence consists of cautious and gradual withdrawal of the drug. Barbiturate-dependent patients can be withdrawn by using a number of different withdrawal regimens. One method involves initiating treatment at the patient's regular dosage level and gradually decreasing the daily dosage as tolerated by the patient.

PETS: Fioricet is NOT for animal use. If your pet has accidently ingested Fioricet, immediately contact an emergency vet clinic or veterinarian.

OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Check the labels of all nonprescription or prescription medications you now take. If any contain a barbiturate or acetaminophen, check with your doctor. Taking them together with Fioricet may cause an overdose.

The butalbital in this medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that slow down the nervous system). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies, or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine; other prescription pain medicine; narcotics; other barbiturates; muscle relaxants; anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics; or anti-seizure medication. Also, drinking large amounts of alcoholic beverages regularly while taking Fioricet (butalbital) may increase the chance of liver damage, especially if you take more of this medicine than your doctor ordered or if you take it regularly for a long time. Therefore, do not drink alcoholic beverages, and check with your doctor before taking any of the medicines listed above, while you are using Fioricet.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the person in charge that you are taking Fioricet. Caffeine (present in Fioricet) interferes with the results of certain tests that use dipyridamole (e.g., Persantine) to help show how well blood is flowing to your heart. Caffeine should not be taken for 8 to 12 hours before the test. The results of other tests may also be affected by Fioricet.

Before having any kind of surgery (including dental surgery) or emergency treatment, tell the medical professional in charge that you are taking Fioricet. Serious side effects can occur if your doctor gives you certain medicines without knowing that you have taken Fioricet.

If you have been taking large amounts of butalbital, or if you have been taking it regularly for several weeks or more, do not suddenly stop taking it without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to reduce gradually the amount you are taking before stopping completely in order to lessen the chance of withdrawal side effects.

If you think you or anyone else may have taken an overdose of Fioricet, get emergency help at once. Taking an overdose of Fioricet or taking alcohol or CNS depressants with Fioricet may lead to unconsciousness or possibly death. Signs of butalbital overdose include severe drowsiness, confusion, severe weakness, shortness of breath or unusually slow or troubled breathing, slurred speech, staggering, and unusually slow heartbeat. Signs of severe acetaminophen poisoning may not occur until 2 to 4 days after the overdose is taken, but treatment to prevent liver damage or death must be started within 24 hours or less after the overdose is taken

LEGAL/STATE RESTRICTIONS: In addition to following all federal laws regarding the online purchase of medications, ButalbitalFioricet.com (Sun Pharmacy / MultiChannel Response LLC) also adheres to all state laws. Therefore we do NOT ship Fioricet or Butalbital to the following states: AR, AZ, DC, FL, GA, HI, IA, KY, LA, MD, MN, MO, MT, NC, NE, NM, NV, OK, PA, RI, TX, UT, VA, VT, WY. All orders require an adult signature upon delivery.

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