Fioricet is a brand name for a combination drug used to treat tension headaches, migraines, and sometimes other types of pain (although Fioricet is not expressly labeled as a general pain reliever). Fioricet is available only with a doctor's prescription, but if you are under a doctor's care for tension-related headache problems, it might be worth talking to your doctor about the possibility of using Fioricet to control your recurring or serious headaches.
Fioricet contains three drugs: acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine.
Acetaminophen is a well-known and popular pain reliever that is also available over-the-counter (OTC). Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in Tylenol and other pain relievers. Since acetaminophen is readily available (and also found in many cough and cold products), patients taking Fioricet must be aware of the contents of any medications they are taking to avoid overdose.
Caffeine is also found in OTC drugs and in many foods and beverages, including coffee, tea, and colas. In Fioricet, caffeine is used to enhance the effectiveness of acetaminophen. When a patient is taking Fioricet, he or she should be careful to avoid most caffeine-containing substances to prevent overdose and caffeine-nervousness.
Butalbital is a member of the barbiturate class of drugs. It is a sedative that is used in Fioricet as a muscle-relaxer; the purpose of butalbital is to relieve the muscle tension associated with tension headaches. Since barbiturates can be habit-forming, care must be taken when using Fioricet to avoid dependency on the drug. Fioricet should only be taken as prescribed by the doctor, and patients should never exceed the recommended dose or use Fioricet more often than prescribed, even if the current dose is proving ineffective (diminished effectiveness may be a sign of tolerance and/or growing drug dependency?addiction). Patients with a history of drug-dependency may not be given Fioricet.
There are a number of side-effects associated with Fioricet use, and very rarely allergic reaction may occur. Side-effects of Fioricet may include vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, anxiety, nervousness, shaking/tremor, lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, or shortness of breath. Some of these side-effects may actually be signs of misuse, dependency, or withdrawal, and should be reported to your doctor. Severe side-effects can indicate an overdose of Fioricet which can be fatal; if you think you have overdosed on Fioricet, seek emergency medical help immediately. It may be necessary to come off Fioricet slowly in gradually decreasing doses to avoid negative side-effects and withdrawal; this should be discussed with the treating physician prior to stopping Fioricet.
Despite its risks, Fioricet is a very effective medicine for controlling tension-related headaches and migraines. When used as directed and under the continued supervision of a doctor, the risks of using Fioricet are greatly reduced, and many people have enjoyed great results with this drug. If you suffer from severe or chronic tension headaches, Fioricet may be the right headache medication for you.
Headache Pain Behind Eye
Recently studies have shown that approximately 45 million people in the United States alone have reported having headaches for which they have to take some type of pain medication. While the majority of the headaches suffered are not serious in nature, they can be at least temporarily debilitating. Headache pain can be caused by many different things. Some people get tension headaches from the stress they suffer when dealing with every day life activities involving family and work. Some people suffer from headaches due to medical conditions such as migraines, sinus problems, and allergies. Some women suffer from hormonal headaches due to the onset of their period each month.
Most of us just turn to an over the counter medication for relief, such as aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, or Aleve. But, what about those that need prescription medication? There are people who have tried prescription medication and that has not helped relieve their headaches. And then, there are people that are leery of taking a lot of prescription medication for headaches. Some may worry that the prescription medication will cause adverse affects when interacting with other medication while others simply would rather take a homeopathic approach to easing their headache pain. Because there are so many variables when dealing with headaches, there are many different headache pain treatment products available.
If you suffer from hormonal headaches, you may notice the pain is on one side of your head. You may also be extra sensitive to light and noise when suffering from a hormonal headache. What type of headache pain treatment products can you turn to for help? Many people use over the counter non-steroid anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) that contain ibuprofen (such as Advil and Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve). However, in some cases, those may not help relieve the headache. If ibuprofen or naproxen do not help you, check with your doctor about ergotamine or methysergide, two prescription pain medications used to treat hormonal headaches. Some doctors may even prescribe tamoxifen, estrogen, or suggest that you begin taking birth control pills to help ease the pain.
People who suffer from migraines regardless of the cause may find that taking the prescription drug Imitrex will help relieve their headache pain. Imitrex has been used to treat migraine headaches since 1993 and has proven to have little side effects. Imitrex is available in tablets, but also in a nasal spray (for those who have difficulty swallowing pills) or injection (for quicker relief).
People with allergy and sinus problems may find themselves suffering from headaches as part of their symptoms. Over the counter medication such as Advil Allergy Sinus or Tylenol Allergy, can be take for sinus or allergy headaches, but there is also prescription medication available. Allegra, Zyrtec, and Clarinex have all been used to treat sinus and allergy headaches.
For those that do not want to take prescription medication, there are alternative homeopathic solutions to relieve headache pain. Boericke and Tafel Alpha SH is a homeopathic tablet that helps relieve headache and sinus pressure. These tablets must be placed under your tongue 15 minutes either before eating or drinking anything other than water or 30 minutes after eating or drinking. Even children as young as 2 can take one tablet every two hours for relief.
Hyland's Headache Formula #7 is another homeopathic tablet that can be taken to relieve headaches, whether the headache is located on the left side, right side, or middle running down to the base of your neck.
HeadOn is a new headache relief product that is applied directly to the forehead to relieve pain due to headaches. It is homeopathic and can be used as often as needed. This is a great product for those that do not like to swallow pills.
As with all medication, you should consult with your doctor before taking even homeopathic headache products.
Some medication can cause side affects, such as Imitrex, which can cause drowsiness. Some can react adversely when combined with other medication. If you are currently taking prescription medication for your headache, but it is not helping, talk to your doctor about it. Chances are that there are other medications he or she can prescribe to try to help your headache pain.
Both Grigoriy Anoshenko & Dr. Beth Paxton are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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