Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

  1. Anolor 300
  2. Dolgic LQ
  3. Esgic
  4. Esgic-Plus
  5. Ezol
  6. Fioricet
  7. Geone
  8. Margesic
  9. Medigesic
  10. Nonbac
  11. Pacaps
  12. Repan

Descriptions

Butalbital, acetaminophen, and caffeine combination is used to relieve symptoms of tension (or muscle contraction) headaches.

Butalbital belongs to the group of medicines called barbiturates. Barbiturates act in the central nervous system (CNS) to produce their effects.

Acetaminophen is used to relieve pain and reduce fever in patients. It does not become habit-forming when taken for a long time. But acetaminophen may cause other unwanted effects when taken in large doses, including liver damage.

When butalbital is used for a long time, it may become habit-forming, causing mental or physical dependence. However, people who have continuing pain should not let the fear of dependence keep them from using narcotics to relieve their pain. Physical dependence may lead to withdrawal side effects if treatment is stopped suddenly. However, severe withdrawal side effects can usually be prevented by gradually reducing the dose over a period of time before treatment is stopped completely.

Caffeine is a CNS stimulant that is used with pain relievers to increase their effect. It has also been used for migraine headaches. However, caffeine can also cause physical dependence when it is used for a long time. This may lead to withdrawal (rebound) headaches when you stop taking it.

This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

  • Tablet
  • Capsule

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of butalbital, acetaminophen, and caffeine combination in children younger than 12 years of age. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of butalbital, acetaminophen, and caffeine combination in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving butalbital, acetaminophen, and caffeine combination.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

  • Riociguat
  • Viloxazine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Acepromazine
  • Alfentanil
  • Alprazolam
  • Amobarbital
  • Anileridine
  • Anisindione
  • Aprobarbital
  • Aripiprazole
  • Aripiprazole Lauroxil
  • Asenapine
  • Baclofen
  • Benperidol
  • Bentazepam
  • Benzhydrocodone
  • Bromazepam
  • Buprenorphine
  • Buspirone
  • Butabarbital
  • Butorphanol
  • Calcium Oxybate
  • Cannabidiol
  • Cannabis
  • Capmatinib
  • Carbamazepine
  • Carbinoxamine
  • Carisoprodol
  • Carphenazine
  • Cetirizine
  • Chloral Hydrate
  • Chlordiazepoxide
  • Chlorpromazine
  • Chlorzoxazone
  • Clobazam
  • Clonazepam
  • Clorazepate
  • Cloxazolam
  • Clozapine
  • Codeine
  • Cyclobenzaprine
  • Dantrolene
  • Daridorexant
  • Darunavir
  • Delorazepam
  • Dexmedetomidine
  • Diacetylmorphine
  • Diazepam
  • Dichloralphenazone
  • Dicumarol
  • Difenoxin
  • Dihydrocodeine
  • Diphenhydramine
  • Diphenoxylate
  • Doxorubicin
  • Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome
  • Doxylamine
  • Droperidol
  • Drospirenone
  • Enflurane
  • Esketamine
  • Estazolam
  • Eszopiclone
  • Ethchlorvynol
  • Ethinyl Estradiol
  • Ethopropazine
  • Ethylmorphine
  • Etonogestrel
  • Fentanyl
  • Flibanserin
  • Flunitrazepam
  • Fluphenazine
  • Flurazepam
  • Fluspirilene
  • Fospropofol
  • Gabapentin
  • Gabapentin Enacarbil
  • Givosiran
  • Halazepam
  • Haloperidol
  • Halothane
  • Hexobarbital
  • Hydrocodone
  • Hydromorphone
  • Hydroxyzine
  • Imatinib
  • Iobenguane I 131
  • Isocarboxazid
  • Isoflurane
  • Isoniazid
  • Ketamine
  • Ketazolam
  • Ketobemidone
  • Levocetirizine
  • Levorphanol
  • Linezolid
  • Loprazolam
  • Lorazepam
  • Lormetazepam
  • Loxapine
  • Magnesium Oxybate
  • Meclizine
  • Medazepam
  • Melperone
  • Meperidine
  • Mephenesin
  • Mephobarbital
  • Meprobamate
  • Meptazinol
  • Mesoridazine
  • Metaclazepam
  • Metaxalone
  • Methadone
  • Methdilazine
  • Methocarbamol
  • Methohexital
  • Methotrimeprazine
  • Methylene Blue
  • Midazolam
  • Molindone
  • Moricizine
  • Morphine
  • Morphine Sulfate Liposome
  • Nalbuphine
  • Nicomorphine
  • Nifedipine
  • Nitrazepam
  • Nitrous Oxide
  • Nordazepam
  • Norethindrone
  • Norgestimate
  • Norgestrel
  • Olanzapine
  • Opium
  • Opium Alkaloids
  • Orphenadrine
  • Oxazepam
  • Oxycodone
  • Oxymorphone
  • Ozanimod
  • Papaveretum
  • Paregoric
  • Pentazocine
  • Pentobarbital
  • Perampanel
  • Perazine
  • Periciazine
  • Perphenazine
  • Phenelzine
  • Phenindione
  • Phenobarbital
  • Phenprocoumon
  • Pimozide
  • Pinazepam
  • Piperacetazine
  • Piperaquine
  • Pipotiazine
  • Piritramide
  • Pixantrone
  • Pneumococcal 13-Valent Vaccine, Diphtheria Conjugate
  • Potassium Oxybate
  • Prazepam
  • Primidone
  • Procarbazine
  • Prochlorperazine
  • Promazine
  • Promethazine
  • Propofol
  • Quazepam
  • Quetiapine
  • Ramelteon
  • Rasagiline
  • Remifentanil
  • Remimazolam
  • Remoxipride
  • Ritlecitinib
  • Safinamide
  • Secobarbital
  • Selegiline
  • Sertindole
  • Sodium Oxybate
  • Sufentanil
  • Sulpiride
  • Suvorexant
  • Tapentadol
  • Temazepam
  • Tetrazepam
  • Thiethylperazine
  • Thiopental
  • Thiopropazate
  • Thioridazine
  • Tilidine
  • Tizanidine
  • Tolonium Chloride
  • Topiramate
  • Tramadol
  • Tranylcypromine
  • Trazodone
  • Triazolam
  • Trifluoperazine
  • Trifluperidol
  • Triflupromazine
  • Trimeprazine
  • Ulipristal
  • Zaleplon
  • Zolpidem
  • Zopiclone
  • Zotepine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Acenocoumarol
  • Fosphenytoin
  • Lixisenatide
  • Ospemifene
  • Phenytoin
  • Prednisone
  • St John’s Wort
  • Warfarin
  • Zidovudine

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

  • Ethanol
  • Tobacco

Using this medicine with any of the following may cause an increased risk of certain side effects but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

  • Cabbage

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Alcohol abuse, history of or
  • Drug dependence, or history of or
  • Weakened physical condition—Use with caution. May increase risk for more serious side effects.
  • Kidney disease or
  • Liver disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.
  • Porphyria (an enzyme problem)—Should not be used in patients with this condition.
  • Stomach problems—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

Proper Use

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. If too much of this medicine is taken for a long time, it may become habit-forming and cause mental or physical dependence. Also, large amounts of acetaminophen may cause liver damage if taken for a long time.

Carefully check the labels of all other medicines you are using, because they may also contain acetaminophen. It is not safe to use more than 4 grams (4,000 milligrams) of acetaminophen in one day (24 hours).

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For oral dosage forms (capsules or tablets):
    • For tension headaches:
      • Adults and children 12 years of age and older—One or two capsules or tablets every 4 hours as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 6 capsules or tablets per day. Do not exceed 4 grams (4000 milligrams) of acetaminophen (Tylenol®) per day.
      • Children younger than 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress while you or your child are taking this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it.

This medicine may be habit-forming. If you or your child feel that the medicine is not working as well, do not use more than your prescribed dose. Call your doctor for instructions.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

Serious skin reactions can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, peeling, or loose skin, red skin lesions, severe acne or skin rash, sores or ulcers on the skin, or fever or chills while you are using this medicine.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you or your child have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while you are using this medicine.

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or not alert.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that can make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for allergies or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine, other prescription pain medicine or narcotics, medicine for seizures or barbiturates, muscle relaxants, or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Also, there may be a greater risk of liver damage if you drink three or more alcoholic beverages while you are taking acetaminophen. Do not drink alcoholic beverages, and check with your doctor before taking any of these medicines while you are using this medicine.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you or your child are taking this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

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

  1. Lightheadedness
  2. shortness of breath

Incidence not known

  1. Abdominal or stomach pain
  2. black, tarry stools
  3. bleeding gums
  4. blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
  5. blood in the urine or stools
  6. blurred vision
  7. change in the frequency of urination or amount of urine
  8. chills
  9. cough
  10. diarrhea
  11. difficulty with breathing
  12. difficulty with swallowing
  13. dizziness
  14. drowsiness
  15. dry mouth
  16. fainting
  17. fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
  18. flushed or dry skin
  19. fruit-like breath odor
  20. hives, itching, or skin rash
  21. increased hunger
  22. increased thirst
  23. increased urination
  24. joint or muscle pain
  25. loss of appetite
  26. nausea or vomiting
  27. pinpoint red spots on the skin
  28. puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
  29. red skin lesions, often with a purple center
  30. red, irritated eyes
  31. seizures
  32. shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
  33. sore throat
  34. sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
  35. sweating
  36. swelling of the feet or lower legs
  37. tightness in the chest
  38. trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
  39. troubled breathing
  40. unexplained weight loss
  41. unusual bleeding or bruising
  42. unusual tiredness or weakness
  43. weakness

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

  1. Confusion as to time, place, or person
  2. dark urine
  3. difficult or painful urination
  4. dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
  5. fever
  6. general feeling of discomfort or illness
  7. hallucinations
  8. headache
  9. holding false beliefs that cannot be changed by fact
  10. increased sweating
  11. irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
  12. light-colored stools
  13. loss of appetite
  14. pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
  15. restlessness
  16. sudden decrease in the amount of urine
  17. sweating
  18. trouble sleeping
  19. unpleasant breath odor
  20. unusual excitement, nervousness, or restlessness
  21. vomiting of blood
  22. 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

  1. Relaxed and calm
  2. sleepiness

Incidence not known

  1. Anxiety
  2. bloated
  3. constipation
  4. continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
  5. depression
  6. earache
  7. excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
  8. false or unusual sense of well-being
  9. full feeling
  10. hearing loss
  11. heartburn
  12. heavy eyelids
  13. high energy
  14. hot spells
  15. hyperventilation
  16. irritability
  17. numbness
  18. pain in the leg
  19. passing gas
  20. sluggishness
  21. stuffy nose
  22. 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.