Fioricet Side Effects

Serious Side Effects of Fioricet

Stop taking Fioricet and contact your doctor if you experience an abnormal heartbeat, feel light-headed, or become short of breath.
Tell your doctor at once if you feel pain in your upper stomach, an abnormal loss of appetite, darkened urine, clay-colored stool, or if your skin or eyes begin to turn yellow.
If you notices unusual bruising, bleeding, or weakness, talk to your doctor immediately.
A fever, getting chills, unexplained aching of the body, and flu symptoms are serious side effects. If you experience these side effects, get medical help immediately.
High doses of acetaminophen can do serious damage to your liver that may become fatal. Do not take more Fioricet than you are prescribed and avoid alcoholic beverages after taking Fioricet.

Common Side Effects of Fioricet

Taking Fioricet may make you drowsy, dizzy or feel drunk. Do not do anything that requires your complete attention, such as driving, until you know how Fioricet will affect you. Drinking alcohol may increase the chance and the intensity of these side effects.
You may experience dry mouth, mild nausea, vomiting, or anxiousness after taking Fioricet.

Warnings & Recalls for Fioricet

Fioricet Black Box Warning

Large doses of acetaminophen can cause serious damage to the liver that may lead to liver failure, need for a liver transplant, and in some cases, death. The risk of liver damage is increased in patients with liver disease and when acetaminophen is taken with alcohol.
If you have a history of alcoholic liver disease or drink over three alcoholic beverages in a day, you should not take medicines that contain acetaminophen, such as Fioricet.

Fioricet Warnings

If you are taking blood thinners, an antidepressant, antihistamine medications, other pain medicines, a sedative or tranquilizing drug, sleeping pills, or vitamins tell your doctor.
Talk to your doctor about any history of liver problems, depression, or porphyria.
You should not take Fioricet if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past two weeks. Interaction with an MAO inhibitor may lead to very serious side effects.
Fioricet may pass from breast milk to an infant. Talk to your doctor before taking Fioricet if you are breast feeding.

Fioricet Treatment and Use

Fioricet | The combination of acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine is used to relieve of tension headaches caused by contractions in the muscles and recurring migraines. Fioricet contains acetaminophen, which can cause liver damage that may become fatal when taken in large quantities.

How does Fioricet Work?

The acetaminophen in Fioricet reduces pain and lowers fevers. The caffeine increases the pain reducing effect by relaxing the blood vessels, improving blood flow. Butalbital is a sedative that acts as a muscle relaxant that targets the muscles contractions that cause tension headaches.

Fioricet Dosage Information

Fioricet dosage is variant upon the patient, their medical condition, and any previous response to this medication. It is an oral medication to be taken as needed every four hours. You should not take more than six tablets in a day. To avoid an upset stomach, take Fioricet with a meal or with milk.

Avoid taking Fioricet more than you need to. It may be habit-forming. Do not double a dose to make up for a missed dose.

Other Names for Fioricet

Brand name:

Fioricet

Fiorinal with Codeine (acetaminophen, butalbital, caffeine, and codeine)

Fiorinal (acetaminophen, butalbital, and aspirin)

Generic name:

Acetaminophen, Butalbital, and Caffeine