Fioricet Side Effects
Common and Rare Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Lightheadedness
shortness of breath
Incidence not known
Abdominal or stomach pain
black, tarry stools
bleeding gums
blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
blood in the urine or stools
blurred vision
change in the frequency of urination or amount of urine
chills
cough
diarrhea
difficulty with breathing
difficulty with swallowing
dizziness
drowsiness
dry mouth
fainting
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
flushed or dry skin
fruit-like breath odor
hives, itching, or skin rash
increased hunger
increased thirst
increased urination
joint or muscle pain
loss of appetite
nausea or vomiting
pinpoint red spots on the skin
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
red skin lesions, often with a purple center
red, irritated eyes
seizures
shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
sore throat
sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
sweating
swelling of the feet or lower legs
tightness in the chest
trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
troubled breathing
unexplained weight loss
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
weakness
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Symptoms of overdose
Confusion as to time, place, or person
dark urine
difficult or painful urination
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
fever
general feeling of discomfort or illness
hallucinations
headache
holding false beliefs that cannot be changed by fact
increased sweating
irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
light-colored stools
loss of appetite
pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
restlessness
sudden decrease in the amount of urine
sweating
trouble sleeping
unpleasant breath odor
unusual excitement, nervousness, or restlessness
vomiting of blood
yellow eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Relaxed and calm
sleepiness
Incidence not known
Anxiety
bloated
constipation
continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
depression
earache
excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
false or unusual sense of well-being
full feeling
hearing loss
heartburn
heavy eyelids
high energy
hot spells
hyperventilation
irritability
numbness
pain in the leg
passing gas
sluggishness
stuffy nose
tingling sensation
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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.
| Irritation of the Stomach or Intestines | Less Severe |
| Drowsiness | Less Severe |
| Dizzy | Less Severe |
| 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 |
| 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 |
- 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.
- drowsiness;
- dizziness, confusion or lightheadedness;
- dry mouth;
- nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite;
- feeling anxious or jittery;
- drunk feeling; or
- headache.
Before taking Fioricet
Do not use Fioricet if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine. You should not use Fioricet if you are allergic to acetaminophen, butalbital, or caffeine, if you have porphyria, or if you have recently used alcohol, sedatives, tranquilizers, or other narcotic medications. To make sure Fioricet is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:-
- liver disease, cirrhosis, a history of alcoholism or drug addiction, or if you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day;
- kidney disease;
- asthma, sleep apnea, or other breathing disorder;
- stomach ulcer or bleeding;
- a history of skin rash caused by any medication;
- a history of mental illness or suicidal thoughts; or
- if you use medicine to prevent blood clots.
Fioricet Effects of Addiction
It’s important only to use Fioricet as instructed by your physician to avoid these risks and also to lower your risk of becoming addicted to it. Some of the signs of Fioricet addiction include:
- Being preoccupied with the use of Fioricet or always trying to find more of it.
- Doctor shopping to get multiple prescriptions.
- Taking it any way other than how your doctor instructs you or regularly taking it for recurring headaches.
- Developing a tolerance to Fioricet is one of the first side effects of Firocet abuse. With tolerance, you have to take higher doses to get an effect. This can not only indicate a Fioricet abuse problem, but it also puts you at a higher risk of an overdose or liver failure.
If you are experiencing Fioricet effects that could indicate you have a problem, it’s important to speak with your doctor. It is possible to develop a tolerance for this drug, as was touched on above, so if you suddenly stop taking it you may experience withdrawal. Your physician or an addiction specialist can help you determine the best actions to take if you have an addiction to barbiturates like Fioricet.
I have migraines since 1998
I do not have any side effects while taking butalbital. It is the only migraine medication that allows me to be coherent with no side effects and has worked very well for me.
I experienced fogginess in the head, dizziness, lightheadedness, body jitters, hot rashes on face, neck and arms, muscle pain in arms. Euphoria, inability to focus. paranoia, anxiety
Euphoria, then some vomiting, after that I felt paranoid, like I was going to die, I have panic attacks, I do not recommend this med if you get panic attacks like I do, BUT I only took 1 pill so far, I am a lil iffy about this pill, since the side effects may cause death, I will only take this in extreme pain. I find Zofran 8 mg to help migraines.
Occasionally experience respiratory depression when taken before bed; will wake up gasping for air shortly after falling asleep.
Euphoria
Minimal side effects, to be expected. Much less side effects than Imitrex or Triptans. Family History of Heart Problems. Imitrex caused me to have severe chest pains.
Very talkative first couple of years right after pill kicked in, not anymore. Nausea if taking two pills at once. Rebound headaches if taking more than 4 a day.
euphoria
None. Blessed relief for miagraines and now fibromyalgia
I’ve taken Fioricet for migraines since I was in my late teens. I’m now in my 50’s. I previously owned a pharmacy and always had access to this medication, but was always extremely careful due to it’s potential for abuse. For the past 20 years I would say my usage would be on average 10-15 pills per year, sometimes less, sometimes more, which I view as non-addictive usage.
My primary doctor and neurologist don’t like to prescribe Fioricet, as they are concerned about abuse. I disagree, as some migraines require a kick from this medication. In most cases I’ll use Excedrine Migraine and that does the trick, thus limiting my Fioricet usage.
I’ve been asked: “you’re not knocked out from taking 2 Fioricet?” – no, never, it simply gets rid of my Migraine.
Having just recovered from COVID-19, I now get these cracking headaches, which occur daily. Absolutely horrible. I’ll try a Tylenol or Excedrine Migraine and that will sometimes tamp down the excruciating pain, but other times I can’t get relief except from Fioricet.
For me it’s a godsend. Clearly because of the new frequency of headaches I need to use this medication with increased caution, and I will. If I feel the pain is so bad that my option would be to cut my head off or if I just can’t shake it with Tylenol/ Excedrine Migraine, then it’s time for Fioricet. For me it simply works as intended and because of my concerns for abuse, I use it with caution.
While there are other medications for migraines available, for me, I don’t see them as better solutions, as their side effects are greater. Why should I take a medication at the onset, (recommended use / best result) of a migraine when all I need is an over the counter Excedrine Migraine? If that doesn’t work, Fioricet is my next line of defense. Seems like a better option than always taking a side effect packed medication.