New drug Fioricit for headache
 

Hi guys, I saw my pain doc today and she gave me a new med called Fioricit for my headaches. I am wondering if anyone here has any firsthand info about it. I haven't filled the script yet so I am kinda hoping to get some feedback on it. Thanks...SUe

Hey Sue,

I haven't taken it, but I have heard of it. It's a combination capsule with butalbital, acetaminophen, caffeine, and codeine. Just be carefule while on this medication about OTC meds that contain tylenol and of course, make sure there are no interactions with any other medications you may be one.

I hope it works for you.

Theresa

I took Fioricet for many years and it did help a great deal with my migraines. There is also Fioricet #3, which has codeine in it. This was I mean migraine medication for years.

I found I was getting more and more headaches and eventually started to get rebound headaches from the Fioricet and that can happen with many medications, especially medications that include Tylenol. I found that if I took it more than two or three times a week I would get this rebound headache. The difference between a rebound headache and a regular headache is that it doesn't go away until you stop taking the offending drug and you have to be off it for about 10 days, which was pretty awful.

I never tried Fioricet #3 until recently. . It really upset my stomach, but my stomach is extremely delicate right now. So I doubt that would be a problem for most people.

If you don't have migraines every day or extremely bad ones, Fioricet is a very good headache drug. Somehow the combination of different medications works together very well, especially if you take it right when the headache is coming on.

My problem is is that I got a lot of headaches around my period, maybe 10 days straight and that would send me into a rebound cycle. That probably won't happen to you and doesn't happen to everybody.

Despite the negative things I said I t, hink it's a very good headache medication and very effective.

Thanks Theresa and Jane. One more question for ya though, I also take Lortab 7.5/500 usually 2 times a day but sometimes 3 if it is a bad day. Is the 500 acetominephin and if it is how much is too much in a day? It isn't that often that my headaches get out of control but from what I have learned here I think that I will give the fioricit a try. ...Sue

I think you can take up to 4 grams a day but, too much Tylenol daily is not good for your kidneys. So if your taking a lot of Lortab for pain on a daily basis, you might want to try narco. That has less Tylenol or even a long acting painkiller if it's for daily pain.

Since it doesn't sound like you have a lot of migraines, I wouldn't worry about the Tylenol in the fioricet.

What is narco for pain? I am taking probably at the most 3 lortabs a day but that is not everyday. Usually 2 will do me if I don't overdo it. I was wondering also about the tylenol and what is it doing to me. I will talk to the doc about it next time I see her. Also how often should I have a blood test to monitor things like my liver, kidney or whatever else? ...Sue

Tylenol is not that good for that kidneys long-term and is not recommended for daily use, but you're not on that much. I wouldn't worry right now but, long-term you might consider other options down the line is your pain gets worse and you find you're taking more pills more often. There are many people on way more then you are.

Narco is the same as lortab with less Tylenol. You can get hydrocodone without Tylenol, but it's not as effective.

I wouldn't worry too much right now as you're not on a lot. I wouldn't get freaked out about the lortab or the fioricet. Doesn't sound like you have that many headaches. If things get worse down the line, you might consider changing medications too long acting opiate. But that is for round-the-clock use and it doesn't sound like you need that so why even get into that at this stage.

I really don't think you much to worry about, but it's good to know that Tylenol isn't totally harmless to the body the way people think it is.

thanks Jane, I am new to this as I fought taking pain pills on a daily basis for a long time. I am trying to get back to work so that is why I am trying to get the pain down and still be able to do something. I was worrying about the tylenol so thanks for the input on that, I won't let the fear of too much keep me from keeping the pain under control...Sue

As I said, if you're really concerned, down the line you might find long acting opiates more effective and less worry about Tylenol, but as you're not on much, there's probably no need to get into all that now. It puts you in a Whole other category of patient. One step at a time. Right now it's about getting a little bit of your life back.

Hi Jane, I am also on 4 other medications so that is my concern about taking too much medicine and what it is doing to me. I am taking skelaxin, pamelor, gabitril and zanaflex in addition to the lortab and now she wants to add the fioricit. I know that skelaxin and zanaflex are both muscle relaxers so i take the skelaxin during the day and one 4mg zanaflex at night to help me sleep. I do have a headache every day, it just varies in intensity. I also have syringomyelia along with many spinal problems so the pain is pretty much there all the time but I am trying to learn to live with it. Maybe I should talk to her about other options instead of the lortab. I also wonder how often should I have a blood workup? Thanks for all the input I really do appreciate all of the shared knowledge...Sue