Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 14, 2022.
Liver failure, sometimes associated with liver transplant or fatalities, has occurred with acetaminophen use. These cases of liver injury were often associated with the use of more than 1 acetaminophen-based product and with total daily acetaminophen doses exceeding 4000 mg .
Commonly used brand name(s)
In the U.S.
- Anolor 300
- Dolgic LQ
- Esgic
- Esgic-Plus
- Ezol
- Fioricet
- Geone
- Margesic
- Medigesic
- Nonbac
- Pacaps
- Repan
Available Dosage Forms:
- Tablet
- Capsule
- Solution
Therapeutic Class: Butalbital/Acetaminophen Combination
Pharmacologic Class: Barbiturate
Chemical Class: Methylxanthine
Uses for butalbital, acetaminophen, and caffeine
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.
Butalbital, acetaminophen, and caffeine is available only with your doctor's prescription...
