Category

• Analgesic

Description

Butalbital, acetaminophen, caffeine, and codeine (byoo-TAL-bi-tal, a-seat-a-MIN-oh-fen, KAF-een, and KOE-deen) combination is a pain reliever and relaxant. It is used to treat tension headaches. Butalbital belongs to the group of medicines called barbiturates (bar-BI-tyoo-rates) . Barbiturates act in the central nervous system (CNS) to produce their effects.

Codeine is a narcotic analgesic (nar-KOT-ik an-al-JEE-zik) that acts in the CNS to relieve pain. Many of its side effects are also caused by actions in the CNS.

When you take butalbital or codeine for a long time, your body may get used to it so that larger amounts are needed to produce the same effects. This is called tolerance to the medicine. Also, butalbital and codeine may become habit-forming (causing mental or physical dependence) when it is used for a long time or in large doses. Physical dependence may lead to withdrawal side effects when you stop taking the medicine. In patients who get headaches, the first symptom of withdrawal may be new (rebound) headaches.

Caffeine may help to relieve headaches. However, caffeine can also cause physical dependence when it is used for a long time. This may lead to withdrawal (rebound) headaches when you stop taking it.

Butalbital, acetaminophen, caffeine and codeine combination may also be used for other kinds of headaches or other kinds of pain as determined by your doctor.

Butalbital, acetaminophen, caffeine, and codeine combination is available only with your doctor's prescription in the following dosage forms:

Oral
• Butalbital, Acetaminophen, Caffeine, and Codeine
  • Capsules (U.S.)

Brand Names

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S.—

• Fioricet with Codeine

† Not commercially available in Canada.