Fioricet has several risks and may not be suitable for everyone.
The active ingredient butalbital in Fioricet may be habit-forming. Using higher doses for a long time may lead to dependence on Fioricet. Suddenly stopping the medication after regular use may also cause withdrawal symptoms.
Drinking alcohol or taking other sedative medications with Fioricet may be harmful and cause dangerous side effects. Butalbital takes a long time to clear from your body.
Do not take Fioricet with other products that have the same active ingredients. Taking too much of these ingredients together can increase the risk of overdose, cause liver or kidney damage, and may be life-threatening.
Talk with your doctor about any medications and over-the-counter products you’re taking, including vitamins, herbs, and natural supplements.
Some examples include:
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- acetaminophen (Tylenol, multi-symptom cough/cold products)
caffeine (energy drinks, Excedrin migraine, caffeine pills)
butalbital (barbiturates)\ - Taking Fioricet regularly can increase your risk for rebound headaches or medication overuse headaches. The American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention Study found use of butalbital for 5 days per month would increase the risk of acute migraine becoming chronic migraine.
- Fioricet can raise blood pressure and heart rate, if you have a history of high blood pressure or heart related conditions, ask your doctor about the risks of Fioricet.
- acetaminophen (Tylenol, multi-symptom cough/cold products)
Is Fioricet Addictive?
Butalbital is a central nervous system depressant, and it can sedate how a person feels pain. This is combined with the pain-relieving effects of acetaminophen, which works differently than the butalbital.
So how do Fioricet abuse and Fioricet addiction occur?
When someone is addictive to Fioricet, it usually begins as tolerance. With a drug tolerance someone takes the substance for a period of time, and then their body becomes used to it, so they need continuously higher doses to get the same effects.
A tolerance can be developed for butalbital as well as codeine if it’s contained in Fioricet. There is research that shows the average barbiturate addict may need to take 1500 mg of the drug to feel the effects they want. Unfortunately, people who are addicted to Fioricet also often take other opioids and narcotics either to amplify the effects of the Fioricet or when they run out of it to achieve the same effect.
What are the signs of Fioricet addiction?
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- One of the first outward signs of Fioricet addiction is often when people start doctor shopping, meaning they try to go to multiple doctors to get more of the drug.
- People may be taking more doses of Fioricet for the treatment of recurring headaches.
- You may have not only a physical dependence but also a Fioricet addiction if you start to experience symptoms of withdrawal when you stop taking it or take a lower dosage.
- People who are addicted to Fioricet may feel like they can’t function normally without it.
- When you’re addicted to Fioricet, you may be obsessed with finding it and taking it.
While all addictions to prescription drugs are worrisome, with Fioricet, there is not only the concern of being addicted to the butalbital, but there are the risks of the acetaminophen component of the drug. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage or failure when high amounts are taken, and it can be an acute situation where it happens very suddenly. It’s important for people who take Fioricet to be aware of this.
Acute liver failure can occur in doses of more than 4,000 mg in a day.
In addition to the dangers of acetaminophen, with Fioricet abuse, there is the risk of overdosing on butalbital as well. Butalbital can cause respiratory depression and excessive sedation, so Fioricet addiction is dangerous in multiple ways.
If you or someone you know may have a Fioricet abuse problem, it’s important to seek professional help, because it’s an addiction that can very easily be dangerous or deadly.