Are there any negative side effects of the pain killer Fioricet?
My doctor prescribed Fioricet to me for my migraines. My Rx says that I can take 2 pills – 4 times a day. Are there any known long term side effects from using this drug? I take them pretty regularly.
Best answer:
Fioricet Side Effects
Fioricet Side Effects
Frequently Observed Fioricet Side Effects
The most frequently reported adverse reactions are drowsiness, lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and intoxicated feeling.
Infrequently Observed Fioricet Side Effects
All adverse events tabulated below are classified as infrequent.Central Nervous System: headache, shaky feeling, tingling, agitation, fainting, fatigue, heavy eyelids, high energy, hot spells, numbness, sluggishness, seizure. Mental confusion, excitement, or depression can also occur due to intolerance, particularly in elderly or debilitated patients, or due to overdosage of butalbital. Autonomic Nervous System: dry mouth, hyperhidrosis. Gastrointestinal: difficulty swallowing, heartburn, flatulence, constipation. Cardiovascular: tachycardia. Musculoskeletal: leg pain, muscle fatigue. Genitourinary: diuresis. Miscellaneous: pruritus, fever, earache, nasal congestion, tinnitus, euphoria, allergic reactions. Several cases of dermatological reactions, including toxic epidermal necrolysis and erythema multiforme, have been reported. Fioricet contains a combination of acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer. Butalbital is in a group of drugs called barbiturates. It relaxes muscle contractions involved in a tension headache. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. It relaxes muscle contractions in blood vessels to improve blood flow. Fioricet (butalbital, acetaminophen, and caffeine) is a combination pain reliever and muscle relaxant used in the treatment of tension headache and migraine, even any kinds of headache. It is available as a generic prescription. Generic Fioricet is much cheaper than Brand Fioricet but they almost have the same effects and same side effects. The most frequently reported adverse reactions or side effects of fioricet are: drowsiness, lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and intoxicated feeling.
Common side effects of Fioricet oral:
| Irritation of the Stomach or Intestines | Less Severe |
| Drowsiness | Less Severe |
| Dizzy | Less Severe |
Infrequent side effects of Fioricet oral:
| Depression | Severe |
| Sluggishness | Severe |
| Confused | Severe |
| Over Excitement | Severe |
| Nightmares | Less Severe |
| Incomplete or Infrequent Bowel Movements | Less Severe |
| Feeling Faint | Less Severe |
| Sensation of Spinning or Whirling | Less Severe |
| Chronic Trouble Sleeping | Less Severe |
| Head Pain | Less Severe |
| Feel Like Throwing Up | Less Severe |
| Throwing Up | Less Severe |
| Nervous | Less Severe |
| Easily Angered or Annoyed | Less Severe |
| Anxious | Less Severe |
Rare side effects of Fioricet oral:
| Discolored Spots and Small Elevations of the Skin | Severe |
| Acute Pustular Eruptions on Skin | Severe |
| Extra Heartbeat | Severe |
| Feeling of Throat Tightness | Severe |
| Acute Liver Failure | Severe |
| Hepatitis | Severe |
| Hepatitis caused by Drugs | Severe |
| Inflammation of Skin caused by an Allergy | Severe |
| Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis | Severe |
| Stevens-Johnson Syndrome | Severe |
| Skin Rash with Sloughing | Severe |
| Decreased Calcification or Density of Bone | Severe |
| Loss of Memory | Severe |
| Hallucination | Severe |
| Rash | Severe |
| Wheezing | Severe |
| Trouble Breathing | Severe |
| Life Threatening Allergic Reaction | Severe |
| Giant Hives | Severe |
| Reaction due to an Allergy | Severe |
| Rickets | Severe |
| Megaloblastic Anemia | Severe |
| Decreased Blood Platelets | Severe |
| Deficiency of Granulocytes a Type of White Blood Cell | Severe |
| Decreased White Blood Cells | Severe |
| Decreased Neutrophils a Type of White Blood Cell | Severe |
| Taking Habit Forming Drugs | Less Severe |
| Feeling Restless | Less Severe |
| Blind Spot in the Eye | Less Severe |
| Perform Complex Natural behaviors while Asleep | Less Severe |
| Increased Feeling of the Skin | Less Severe |
| Ringing in the Ears | Less Severe |
| Hives | Less Severe |
| Involuntary Quivering | Less Severe |
| Uncoordinated | Less Severe |
| Fast Heartbeat | Less Severe |
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat;
- feeling light-headed or short of breath;
- nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
- easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms.
Less serious side effects may include:
- drowsiness;
- dizziness, confusion or lightheadedness;
- dry mouth;
- nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite;
- feeling anxious or jittery;
- drunk feeling; or
- headache.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.