Author: Alex Thompson

Esgic Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing

If you use butalbital while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Using it for long periods or in high doses near the expected delivery date is not recommended because of possible harm to the unborn baby.

Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.

1. The average daily dose for the barbiturate addict is usually about 1500 mg.
2. Intensity of withdrawal symptoms gradually declines over a period of approximately 15 days.
3. However, caffeine can also cause physical dependence when it is used for a long time.

This medication works best if it is used as the first signs of a headache occur. If you wait until the headache has worsened, the medication may not work as well. The in vitro plasma protein binding of butalbital is 45% over the concentration range of 0.5 to 20 mcg/mL.

What are the side effects of butalbital-acetaminophen-caffeine?

Extended and repeated use of this product is not recommended because of the potential for physical dependence. This medicine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. In rare cases, acetaminophen may cause a severe skin reaction. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling. Butalbital belongs to the group of medicines called barbiturates. Barbiturates act in the central nervous system (CNS) to produce their effects.

Patients should be informed about the signs of serious skin reactions, and use of the drug should be discontinued at the first appearance of skin rash or any other sign of hypersensitivity. Caffeine is cleared through metabolism and excretion in the urine. Hepatic biotransformation prior to excretion, results in about equal amounts of 1-methylxanthine and 1-methyluric acid. Of the 70% of the dose that is recovered in the urine, only 3% is unchanged drug. Rarely, acetaminophen may cause serious skin reactions such as acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), which can be fatal.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed to lower the risk of addiction. A single or multiple drug overdose with this combination product is a potentially lethal polydrug overdose, and consultation with a regional poison control center is recommended. Immediate treatment includes support of cardiorespiratory function and measures to reduce drug absorption. Rarely, acetaminophen can cause serious skin reactions such as acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), which can be fatal.

DRUGS AND MEDICATIONS CENTER

Taking too much acetaminophen may cause serious (possibly fatal) liver disease. Adults should not take more than 4000 milligrams (4 grams) of acetaminophen a day. People with liver problems and children should take less acetaminophen. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how much acetaminophen is safe to take. Though it helps many people, this medication may sometimes cause addiction. This risk may be higher if you have a substance use disorder (such as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol).

As this occurs, the margin between an intoxication dosage and fatal dosage becomes smaller. The lethal dose of a barbiturate is far less if alcohol is also ingested. Major withdrawal symptoms (convulsions and delirium) may occur within 16 hours and last up to 5 days after abrupt cessation of these drugs.

Is butalbital-acetaminophen-caffeine available over the counter?

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Toxicity from barbiturate poisoning includes drowsiness, confusion, and coma; respiratory depression; hypotension; and hypovolemic shock. Several cases of dermatological reactions, including toxic epidermal necrolysis and erythema multiforme, have been reported.

Esgic Dosage and Administration

Alcohol and other CNS depressants may produce an additive CNS depression, when taken with this combination product, and should be avoided. This product may impair mental and/or physical abilities required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks such as driving a car or operating machinery. Such tasks should be avoided while taking this product. No adequate studies have been conducted in animals to determine whether acetaminophen or butalbital have a potential for carcinogenesis, mutagenesis or impairment of fertility.

Drug Interactions

A doctor may prescribe BAC to help relieve symptoms of tension headaches. They may also prescribe the combination to treat migraine, though it’s not Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for this use. This medication may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal birth control such as pills, patch, or ring.

It relaxes muscle contractions involved in a tension headache. Other combinations that contain BAC or are similar to BAC may be controlled substances. The DEA classifies Fiorinal, which contains butalbital, aspirin, and caffeine, as a Schedule III drug. That means that there’s a low to moderate risk of dependence or overuse. Small amounts of barbiturates and caffeine can make it into breast milk. Talk with a healthcare professional if you plan to breastfeed or chestfeed.

Consequently, the extended use of this product is not recommended. Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Butalbital is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.