| At our online pharmacy and many others, the most | | | | the skeletal muscles in the head, neck and scalp. |
| frequently prescribed medication is butalbital, the | | | | Acetaminophen is an analgesic (pain reliever) and |
| generic form of Fioricet. Patients are prescribed this | | | | antipyretic (fever reducer). Tylenol is acetaminophen. |
| medication for relief of tension headache. This article | | | | Caffeine is a central nervous stimulant found naturally |
| summarizes tension headache as well as butalbital to | | | | in coffee. All the ingredients in Butalbital (Fioricet) are |
| help patients make informed choices about their | | | | absorbed quickly. They are eliminated from the body |
| treatment. | | | | in a variety of ways involving the liver and kidneys. It |
| Tension headache, also called "muscle contraction | | | | is interesting to note that while the caffeine and |
| headache" or "stress headache" is a condition | | | | acetaminophen are eliminated from the body rather |
| involving pain in the head, neck or scalp. It is typically | | | | quickly (half of the drug is eliminated from the body |
| a dull, achy feeling on both sides of the head, often | | | | in 3 hours), the butalbital component remains in the |
| associated with tightness of the muscles in the | | | | body much longer (half of the drug is eliminated in 35 |
| affected area. Tension headaches usually start in the | | | | hours). |
| middle of the day, typically building slowly and | | | | While Fioricet and butalbital are safe medications, it is |
| gradually. They can become quite severe, even more | | | | helpful to understand the precautions advised by the |
| painful than a migraine headache. The pain may be | | | | drug manufacturers when taking this medication. If |
| worsened by noise or glare. | | | | you have a hypersensitivity to any of the |
| Tension headache is often the result of stress, | | | | components in butalbital, obviously you should consult |
| anxiety or depression. It can also result from holding | | | | a physician before taking the medication. Since the |
| the head in a constant or awkward position for long | | | | medication is cleared from the body by the kidneys |
| times, for example when using a computer, typing or | | | | and liver, any patient with impared liver or kidney |
| performing fine work using the hands. Other | | | | function should consult a physician. The package |
| contributing factors may include excessive alcohol | | | | insert for Fioricet also mentions that patients with |
| consumption, eyestrain, fatigue, excess caffeine, | | | | porphyria should exercise the same caution, as should |
| sinus infection and the flu. | | | | patients taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. |
| Tension headache can be extremely uncomfortable | | | | Fioricet and butalbital have other warnings as well. |
| and annoying, but is not dangerous. It is important to | | | | The medication can give patients a feeling of |
| differentiate between tension headache and other | | | | intoxication and euphoria, and may be habit forming. |
| conditions which result in head pain, however. If the | | | | Butalbital is a central nervous system depressant. This |
| pain is associated with vision changes, dizziness, | | | | attribute accounts for the relaxation of skeletal |
| nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, seizures or it does not | | | | muscle associated with tension headache, but it also |
| respond to treatment, a physician should be | | | | carries the same risk as other CNS depressants. You |
| consulted immediately. | | | | should avoid driving or operating machinery when |
| While the mechanism behind tension headaches is not | | | | using this medication, as it can impair your mental and |
| completely understood, there are a variety of | | | | or physical abilities. Alcohol can greatly strengthen the |
| treatments available with varying efficacy for | | | | CNS depressant capability of the medication- avoid |
| patients. These include relaxation exercises, | | | | combining alcohol and butalbital. |
| meditation, hot showers, biofeedback, a hot or cold | | | | Adverse reactions to butalbital and Fioricet include: |
| pack placed on the point of pain, exercise and over | | | | drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, sedation, |
| the counter medication. Given the escalating nature | | | | shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting and abdominal |
| of the headache, it is advisable to treat the pain as | | | | pain. As with any medication, there have been a wide |
| early as possible and prevent the pain from increasing | | | | range of other rare adverse reactions reported. |
| in severity. For many patients, there is simply no | | | | In conclusion, Fioricet and butalbital are safe |
| substitute for Fioricet or butalbital. This medication is | | | | medications which are effective treatment for |
| a combination of three ingredients (50 mg butalbital, | | | | tension headaches. An educated patient is a safe |
| 325 mg acetaminophen and 40 mg caffeine). For | | | | patient, so it is important to understand the |
| some reason, this combination of ingredients in this | | | | information in this article. If you do not understand |
| ratio of quantities is particularly effective in treating | | | | the information in this article, or if you fall into any of |
| tension headache. | | | | the advisory categories, it is best to consult a |
| Butalbital is a barbiturate. It is responsible for relaxing | | | | physician before beginning treatment. |