Each tablet contains the following active ingredients:
- butalbital USP . . . . . . . . . . . .50 mg
- acetaminophen USP . . . . . . 325 mg
- caffeine USP . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 mg
COMMON BRANDS
Fioricet, Esgic, Zebutal, Vtol LQ
DRUG CLASS
Barbiturate / Analgesic / Adenosine antagonist
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE CLASSIFICATION
Controlled in some states. See FAQs below.
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.
Mechanism of Action for Relief
| Component | Role in Pain Relief |
|---|---|
| Acetaminophen | Reduces pain and fever by blocking prostaglandins in the CNS |
| Butalbital | A barbiturate; relaxes muscle tension and reduces anxiety |
| Caffeine | Vasoconstrictor; helps counteract the dilated blood vessels involved in 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
What Fioricet Treats Effectively ?
| Condition | Efficacy |
|---|---|
| Tension-Type Headache | Effective — Relieves muscle contraction and associated pain |
| Mild to Moderate Migraines | Moderately effective when taken early in the attack |
| Rebound Headaches | Not effective — May actually contribute to medication overuse headaches (MOH) |
| Cluster Headaches | ❌ Not effective — Not used or recommended |
Summary of Fioricet Efficacy
| Use | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Acute tension headache | ✔️ Recommended |
| Occasional migraine | ✔️ May help if taken early |
| Frequent or chronic headache | ❌ Avoid — risk of overuse and rebound |
| First-line for migraine | ❌ No — better options (e.g., triptans, NSAIDs) |