Dosing and uses of Butalbital
Combos
With acetaminophen: Fioricet
With ASA: FiorinaL
Other Indications & Uses
Pain, vascular HA
Pediatric dosage forms and strengths
<12 years old: Safety & efficacy not established
Butalbital adverse (side) effects
Frequency not defined
Common
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Intoxicated feeling
- Lightheadedness
- Sedation
Less Common
- Tachycardia
- Headache, shaky feeling, tingling, agitation, fainting, fatigue, fever, heavy eyelids, high energy, hot spells, numbness, sluggishness, seizure
- Dry mouth, hyperhidrosis
- Difficulty swallowing, heartburn, flatulence, constipation
- Leg pain, muscle fatigue
- Diuresis
- Pruritus, earache, nasal congestion, tinnitus, euphoria, allergic reactions
Warnings
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to any component, porphyria
Cautions
Patient should avoid driving car, heavy machinery
Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy category: C
Lactation: excreted in breast milk
Pregnancy categories
A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.
C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.
D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.
X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.
NA: Information not available.
Pharmacology of Butalbital
Half-Life: 35 hr
Excretion: renal (Butalbital)
Mechanism of action
Butalbital: intermediate-acting barbiturate
