About Fioricet

Fioricet is included in a medication group known as barbiturates; these drugs provide relaxing after effects. The drug is basically a barbiturate with sedative properties, combined with an aspirin-free medicine and caffeine.

Uses or Indications

Fioricet is normally used in the treatment for pain which is associated with the muscle contractions on the area of the neck and shoulders, headaches, and migraines.

How to Use Fioricet

Fioricet is an oral ingestion medicine which is available in 325mg, 40mg, and 50mg dosage strengths. Users should carefully follow intake instructions from their doctor before using the medication for treatment. The normal intake for Fioricet is one or two tablets, ingested in regular intervals of four hours; take note however, that the maximum daily dosage must not be higher than six tablets. Prolonged and successive use of the medication is strongly discouraged, due to the possibility of the development of drug dependence in users.

Possible Side Effects

Adverse effects may include nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, drowsiness, light-headedness, abdominal pain, an intoxicated feeling, and a shortness of breath. Uncommon adverse effects include constipation, sluggishness, a quickened heartbeat, excessive urination, flatulence, depression, and excessive sweating, among others. These adverse effects are relatively unexpected; if any of these symptoms develop or have variations in intensity, the user is advised to immediately consult with a physician.

Drug Precautions

The medication may cause the user to feel drowsy and less alert; activities which require focus and mental alertness are therefore discouraged if the user is under the medication, or until his or her response to it is determined. Elderly or debilitated people, and those who are under treatment for kidney and liver problems, severe depression, abdominal problems, and drug abuse are advised to initially consult with a physician before considering on taking Fioricet. Nursing and conceiving women are advised to do likewise; the medication may have adverse effects on the health of the unborn or nursing child.

Drug Interaction

Patients who have received treatments of MAO inhibitors (tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, and phenelzine) for the past 14 days are prohibited from taking Fioricet due to potential health risks. Fioricet may also unnecessarily enhance the effects of medications which cause drowsiness; these include sedatives for the treatment of insomnia, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, anxiety medications, antihistamines, pain relievers, and alcohol.

Missed Dose

If a dose of Fioricet is missed, take the dose as soon as it is remembered, but see to it that the next intake is not due for some time. Otherwise, the missed dose should be skipped, and the next one taken, as indicated on the regular intake schedule. Refrain from taking double doses of Fioricet in order to make up for a missed dose.

Overdose

An intake of Fioricet which exceeds the prescribed amount, or an intake which is combined with alcohol and other depressants, may result in unconsciousness, and death. The signs of an overdose of the drug include a slurred speech, a shortness of breath, severe drowsiness, extreme weakness, an unusually slow heart rate, confusion, hallucination, a slow and troubled breathing, and vomiting with blood.

Storage

Keep and dispense Fioricet in a tightly-sealed container, in temperatures below 30° C.