Fioricet efficacy

Fioricet® (Butalbital, Acetaminophen, and Caffeine Tablets USP) is supplied in tablet form for oral administration.

Each tablet contains the following active ingredients:
butalbital USP . . . . . . . . . . . .50 mg
acetaminophen USP . . . . . . 325 mg
caffeine USP . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 mg

Inactive Ingredients: crospovidone, FD&C Blue #1, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, pregelatinized starch, and stearic acid.

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 is used to treat tension headaches that are caused by muscle contractions.

Evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of this combination product in the treatment of multiple recurrent headaches is unavailable. Its use has been primarily associated with the pain relieving effects of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and the relaxation effects of butalbital. Caution in this regard is required because butalbital is habit-forming and potentially abusable.

What we can find the efficacy of fioricet here is the patient reviews: 85% headache surfers thought fioricet is very efficient for tension headache, migraine headache, and even neck pain. Some even think fioricet is a life saver and they can live and work as normal. Butalbital-containing analgesics may be effective as backup medications or when other medications are ineffective or cannot be used.

By Druglib, The butalbital-containing compounds are efficacious in placebo-controlled trials among patients with episodic tension-type headaches. Despite their frequent clinical use for migraine, they have not been studied in placebo-controlled trials among patients with migraine.

Barbiturates can produce:

  • intoxication,
  • hangover,
  • tolerance,
  • dependence,
  •  toxicity. 

Manage Headache

Butalbital-containing products (such as Fioricet) used for treating migraines can cause:

  • Drug-induced headaches
  • The need to detoxify
  • Withdrawal symptoms
  • Increased medical expenses
  • Lower quality of life

 

How to manage your tension Headache

tension-headache
tension-headache

A lot of customers order fioricet online for relief of tension headache. A tension headache is pain or discomfort in your head, scalp, or neck. A tension headache occurs when neck and scalp muscles become tense, or contract. The muscle contractions can be a response to stress, depression, a head injury, or anxiety. A tension headache (tension-type headache) is the most common type of headache, and yet its causes aren’t well understood.

The cause of tension headache is not known. Experts used to think tension headaches stemmed from muscle contractions in the face, neck and scalp, perhaps as a result of heightened emotions, tension or stress. But research suggests muscle contractions aren’t the cause.

The most common theories support a heightened sensitivity to pain in people who have tension headaches and possibly a heightened sensitivity to stress. Increased muscle tenderness, a common symptom of tension headache, may result from a sensitized pain system.

Tension-type headache  is a significant cause of sickness absence and impaired ability at work.  Tension Headache is classified as a primary headache according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders. It is a very common form of headache and can be:

  • Episodic Tension Headache (affects 78% of the population). This occurs on fewer than 15 days each month. It can evolve into the chronic variety.
  • Chronic Tension Headache (affects 3% of the population). This occurs on more than 15 days each month and has all the features of the episodic Tension Headache.

Tension headaches can last from 30 minutes to 7 days.

If you have a headache on 15 or more days each month over a 3-month period, you may have chronic tension headaches. This type of headache can lead to stress and depression, which in turn can lead to more headaches.

Triggers of Tension Headaches

A variety of foods, activities, and stress can cause these types of contractions. Some people develop tension headaches after staring at a computer screen for long hours or driving for long periods. Cold temperatures may also trigger a tension headache in some people.

Other factors that may trigger a tension headache include:

  • drinking alcohol
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • Poor posture
  • Poor sleep
  • Stress
  • Muscular tightness
  • eye strain
  • fatigue
  • smoking
  • a cold or flu
  • a sinus infection
  • caffeine
  • Usually relieved by simple analgesics.

57% Headaches are tension headaches. You can follow the steps here to prevent your headache. What you need more details about prevent tension headache  or cure your tension headaches?

Treatment and medicines of Tension Headaches

Some people with tension headaches don’t seek medical attention and try to treat the pain on their own. Unfortunately, repeated use of over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers can actually cause overuse headaches.

A variety of medications, both OTC and prescription, are available to reduce the pain of a headache, including:

    • Pain relievers. Simple OTC pain relievers are usually the first line of treatment for reducing headache pain. These include the drugs aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, Diclofenac, Paracetamol:others) and naproxen (Aleve). Prescription medications include naproxen (Naprosyn), indomethacin (Indocin) and ketorolac (Ketorolac Tromethamine).
    • Combination medications. Aspirin or acetaminophen or both are often combined with caffeine or a sedative drug in a single medication. Combination drugs may be more effective than are single-ingredient pain relievers. Many combination drugs are available OTC.
    • Triptans and narcotics. For people who experience both migraines and episodic tension headaches, a triptan can effectively relieve the pain of both headaches. Opiates, or narcotics, are rarely used because of their side effects and potential for dependency.
fioricet
Fioricet is very effective for tension headache relief
  • Fioricet fioricet is a very effective headache reliever. Fioricet is consist of butalbital, apap, 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 is used to treat tension headaches that are caused by muscle contractions

Even if you are taking tension headache medicines, you still need manage your headaches. Home treatment may help you avoid headaches. You can:

  • Try to reduce stress.
  • Make sure you sleep, exercise, and eat on a regular schedule.
  • Make sure you practice good posture. Stand and sit up straight.
  • Try not to strain your eyes when you use your computer.
  • Get treatment for depression or anxiety if you have those health problems.
  • Try using a headache diary. Every time you get a headache, write down the date, the time, and what you were doing and feeling before your headache started. This may help you and your doctor find out what is causing your headaches. Then your doctor can use the diary to plan your treatment.

How to Prevent Headache

A lot of patients order fioricet or buy fioricet in order to stop their tension headache or general headaches.

Headache Types
Headache Types

normally 53% headaches are tension headaches and 39% are migraines. Other kinds of headaches only occupy eight percent.

The best way to relieve your headaches are preventing your headache before it begins.

You have to know your headache triggers. Normally it is because of stress. But there are a lot of headache triggers there including weather,strong smell, Hair Accessories, sex and Exercise, Poor Posture, Cheese, Red Wine, food, Cold Cuts, Skipping Meals, Smoking, Caffeine,

If you can identify your most common triggers, you may be able to cut off headaches before they start. The best way to accomplish this is through a headache diary.

Keep a daily log of foods you eat, stressful events, weather changes, and physical activity. Whenever you have a headache, record the time it starts and stops.

A headache diary includes:

    Day and time the pain began;
    What you ate and drank over the past 24 hours;
    How much you slept;
    stressful events;
    weather changes;
    and physical activity;

How long the headache lasted and what made it stop

Review your diary with your doctor to identify triggers or a pattern to your headaches. This can help you and your doctor create a treatment plan. Knowing your triggers can help you avoid them.

Emotional stress is one of the most common triggers of migraines and tension headaches ( stress headaches). Migraine sufferers are generally found to be more emotional and highly affected by stressful events. During stressful events certain chemicals in the brain are released to combat the situation (known as the ‘fight or flight’ response). The release of these chemicals can provoke blood vessel changes that can cause migraine headaches.

Stress is also an important factor in tension headaches. Tension headaches can either be episodic or chronic. Episodic tension headache is usually triggered by an isolated stressful situation or a build-up of stress; it can usually be treated by over-the-counter painkillers. Daily stress such as from a high-pressure job can lead to chronic tension headaches. Treatment for chronic tension headaches usually involves stress management, counselling, and possibly the use of antidepressant or anxiety reducing medication.

Manage Headache

Stress management involves learning to be able to control stress and relax. Everyone has periods of stress. Stress has benefits in that it can result in us pushing ourselves and getting things done. This can precipitate a headache. Simply taking some deep breaths and maybe tensing then relaxing your muscles can relieve occasional mild stress. Regular stress may require learning to say “no”, not taking too much on. Becoming fit, eating regularly, and proper sleep can help combat stress. Learn better organizing skills, not setting standards that are too high and deal with problems as they arise, can all help. As can, adopting stress management techniques such as meditation, biofeedback, relaxation therapy and yoga.

Lifestyle changes that may help to prevent your headache, include:

  1. Use a different pillow or change sleeping positions.
  2. Practice good posture when reading, working, or doing other activities.
  3. Exercise and stretch your back, neck, and shoulders often when typing, working on computers, or doing other close work.
  4. Get more vigorous exercise. This is exercise that gets your heart beating fast. (Check with your health care provider about what kind of exercise is best for you.)
  5. Have your eyes checked. If you have glasses, use them.
  6. Learn and practice stress management. Some people find relaxation exercises or meditation helpful.
  7. Eat Regularly, Eating balanced meals throughout the day will help keep your blood sugar on an even keel
  8. Physical Therapy, Physical therapy combines exercise and education to reduce pain and improve range of motion

Migraine prevention

Some people can prevent migraines by avoiding triggers. Others have prevented migraines successfully through relaxation techniques, acupuncture, or exercise. However, these therapies alone don’t work for everyone.

Some people also need treatment with medication to reduce the number of migraines they have. The drugs used to prevent migraines are different from drugs that to treat migraines once a migraine starts.

Drugs that prevent migraines, such as gabapentin, must be taken on an ongoing basis to work properly.

Over-the counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen are effective against many types of headaches. But avoid taking these drugs continuously, as this can result in medication overuse headaches or rebound headaches — headache pain that returns as soon as the pills have worn off.

For frequent or severe headaches, talk to your doctor about prescription medications that help prevent them. 

Your doctor may recommend that you take a prescription medicine every day to prevent headaches. You may want to take this medicine if:

  • Over-the-counter medicines don’t work to stop your headaches.
  • You’re taking drugs to stop headaches more than 3 times a week.
  • You get a headache more than 15 days a month.

Medicines used to prevent tension headaches include:

  • Antidepressants, such as amitriptyline.
  • Seizure medicines, such as topiramate and Gabapentin
  • Medicines that relax muscles, such as tizanidine.
  • Antianxiety medicines, such as buspirone.

To compare gabapentin with placebo for use as a prophylactic agent in patients with migraine (with or without aura).

NIH has list an article about

Efficacy of gabapentin in migraine prophylaxis

STUDY DESIGN AND TREATMENT:

After screening, a 4-week, single-blind, placebo baseline period was followed by a 12-week, double-blind, treatment period. The 12-week treatment period consisted of a 4-week titration phase and an 8-week stable-dosing phase.

During the 4-week titration phase, patients were started on one 300-mg capsule of gabapentin or matching placebo. Patients were titrated weekly from 900 mg/day (end of week 1) to 2400 mg/day (end of week 4) and had to be receiving a stable dose of study medication by the end of the titration period.

Study medication was to be given on a three-times-a-day dosing regimen.

Their conclusion: Gabapentin is an effective prophylactic agent for patients with migraine. In addition, gabapentin appears generally well tolerated with mild to moderate somnolence and dizziness.

For more information, please check Efficacy of gabapentin in migraine prophylaxis. ( https://fioricetheadache.com/2014/09/how-to-prevent-headache/ )

By patient reviews, 80% patients think Gabapentin is good for Migraine Prevent:

Gabapentin For Migraine
Gabapentin For Migraine