Are There any Side Effects of Fioricet (Butalbital APAP Caffeine)?

Are there any negative side effects of the pain killer Fioricet(Butalbital APAP Caffeine)?
My doctor prescribed Fioricet(Butalbital APAP Caffeine) to me for my migraines. My Rx says that I can take 2 pills – 4 times a day. Are there any known long term side effects from using this drug? I take them pretty regularly.

Best answer:

Fioricet, a medication commonly prescribed for tension headaches and migraines, can cause side effects. Fioricet contains a combination of acetaminophen (a pain reliever), butalbital (a barbiturate), and caffeine.

Common side effects of Fioricet may include:

  1. Drowsiness: Butalbital, one of the active ingredients in Fioricet, is a central nervous system depressant that can cause drowsiness or sedation.
  2. Dizziness: Some individuals may experience dizziness or lightheadedness while taking Fioricet.
  3. Nausea or Vomiting: Acetaminophen, another component of Fioricet, can sometimes cause gastrointestinal upset, including nausea or vomiting.
  4. Stomach Upset: Some people may experience stomach discomfort or abdominal pain while taking Fioricet.
  5. Difficulty Concentrating: The sedative effects of butalbital may impair cognitive function and make it difficult to concentrate.
  6. Feeling Anxious or Agitated: In some cases, Fioricet may cause feelings of anxiety or agitation, especially in individuals sensitive to barbiturates.
  7. Trouble Sleeping: Fioricet can disrupt normal sleep patterns and may cause difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
  8. Rash or Itching: Allergic reactions to Fioricet are rare but can occur. Seek medical attention if you develop a rash, itching, or any signs of an allergic reaction.
  9. Liver Toxicity: Fioricet contains acetaminophen, which can cause liver damage if taken in high doses or over a long period. Taking more than the recommended dose of Fioricet or using it in combination with other acetaminophen-containing medications can increase the risk of liver toxicity.
  10. Dependence or Withdrawal: Butalbital, a barbiturate found in Fioricet, has the potential for dependence and withdrawal symptoms if used excessively or for prolonged periods.

Answer by Comrade Demitri Dingleberry
Plague and genital rats.

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18 thoughts on “Are There any Side Effects of Fioricet (Butalbital APAP Caffeine)?”

  1. Not really, Fioricet is a weakend version of percocet, the main side-effect is dependance on the drug, however if you develop a fever that lasts for more than 3 days discontinue and see a doctor.

  2. Reported side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, confusion or lightheadedness, shortness of breath, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or decreased appetite, tiredness, leg pain, or muscle weakness, agitation, irritability, nervousness, anxiety or excitability, rash or itching, feeling of intoxication, headache, and constipation.

  3. More common side effects may include:
    Abdominal pain, dizziness, drowsiness, intoxicated feeling, light-headedness, nausea, sedation, shortness of breath, vomiting

    Less common or rare side effects may include:
    Agitation, allergic reactions, constipation, depression, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, earache, exaggerated feeling of well-being, excessive sweating, excessive urination, excitement, fainting, fatigue, fever, flatulence, headache, heartburn, heavy eyelids, high energy, hot spells, itching, leg pain, mental confusion, muscle fatigue, numbness, rapid heartbeat, ringing in the ears, seizure, shaky feeling, skin redness and/or peeling, sluggishness, stuffy nose, tingling

    Mental and physical dependence can occur with the use of barbiturates such as butalbital when these drugs are taken in higher than recommended doses over long periods of time

  4. According to the FDA, the following side effects have been noted:
    “drowsiness, lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and intoxicated feeling.”

    Please look at the 13 page report below, which also provides information on the various sub-components and interactions with other drugs.

  5. Side effects

    Side effects for any drug are difficult to predict, but commonly reported side effects for Fioricet include:

    * Abdominal pain
    * Dizziness
    * Drowsiness
    * Intoxicated feeling
    * Light-headedness
    * Nausea
    * Sedation
    * Addiction

    [edit]

    Dangers and risks

    Fioricet contains acetaminophen, which has been shown to cause liver damage at higher dosages. Care should be excercised when using Fioricet to prevent possible liver damage. Fioricet also contains butalbital, which is an addictive, mind (and behavior) altering barbituate. Fioricet can be habit forming. Fioricet should not be mixed with alcohol, both due to the possibility of exacerbating liver damage in combination with the APAP, and due to increased risk of intoxication, respritory depression, and general sedation in combination with the butalbital.

  6. * drowsiness;
    * dizziness,, confusion or lightheadedness;
    * shortness of breath;
    * dry mouth;
    * nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or decreased appetite;
    * tiredness, leg pain, or muscle weakness;
    * agitation, irritability, nervousness, anxiety or excitability;
    * rash or itching;
    * feeling of intoxication;
    * headache; or
    * constipation.

    If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking acetaminophen/butalbital/caffeine and seek emergency medical attention:

    * an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
    * slow, weak breathing;
    * liver damage (yellowing of the skin or eyes, nausea, abdominal pain or discomfort, unusual bleeding or bruising, severe fatigue);
    * blood problems (easy or unusual bleeding or bruising); or
    * low blood sugar (fatigue, increased hunger or thirst, dizziness, or fainting).

  7. Common Fioricet Side Effects
    When you take a new medication, common sense tells you that any new occurrences should be noted. With Fioricet, it is no different. Common side effects can include stomach cramping, bloating, feelings of dizziness, sleepiness, feeling light-headed, or even nausea.

  8. yes of curse but depends that what kind of pain killers ur taking.like they can hur your intestine and kidneys.

  9. Yes i have read that you will get addicted to Fioricet if you take it regularly i suggest you should tell your doctor to RX to something else i take Imitrex for migraines and its very good and you wont get addicted to it.

  10. Fioricet is butatlbital (a sedative ) along with acetaminophen ( Tylenol ) and caffeine. All medications have side effects- don’t forget that! This one can cause sedation, nausea, vomiting and many other garden-variety side effects. The big thing is that this drug can be habit forming- but under the close care of your doctor, you can use this drug safely. The one thing you need to be carefull of is that this drug contains acetaminophen- which is Tylenol- if you have a fever at some point and take Tylonol make sure you aren’t overdosing yourself. Also, long term daily use of acetaminophen can over time damage your liver. If you cont. to use this drug past 6 mos or so, you should perhaps ask your doctor about stitching to a different drug. Is this taken for Migrain? If so, there are lots of different drugs that can be used. Good luck!

  11. Like all controlled drugs it has a risk of dependency, if your physician per-scribed it twice daily then it is only to be taken when you are having an actual migraine not if you are just having certain symptoms. You can go to drugs.com and look up all the side effects and risks.

  12. I would look in a totally different direction to get relief.

    There is a one-time treatment Atlasprofilax that usually makes the migraine disappear – of course there is no guarantee.

    I have experienced the amazing effects myself… 🙂

    Now, the treatment is available in California and Europe only, costing approx. 220 dollars. And it’s worth to travel a far way to make the experience!

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