In this Article

• What is acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine (Fioricet)?
• What are the possible side effects of acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine?
• What is the most important information I should know about acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine?
• How should I take acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine?
• What happens if I miss a dose?
• What happens if I overdose?
• What should I avoid while taking acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine?
• What other drugs will affect acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine?
• Where can I get more information?

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine?

Do not use acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis) or if you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day. You may not be able to take medicine that contains acetaminophen.

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to acetaminophen, butalbital, or caffeine, or if you have porphyria.

To make sure you can safely take acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• kidney disease,
• liver disease; or
• a history of mental illness or suicidal thoughts.

Butalbital may be habit forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Never share this medication with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

Acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine?

Take exactly as prescribed. Never take acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine in larger amounts, or for longer than recommended by your doctor. An overdose of this medication can damage your liver or cause death. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.

Take the medicine with food or milk if it upsets your stomach.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Butalbital is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.