Find information on thousands of medical conditions and prescription drugs.

Esgic

Fioricet and Esgic are brand name drugs made from a combination of acetaminophen (325 mg), butalbital (a barbiturate, 50 mg), and caffeine (40 mg). They are usually used to treat tension headaches and migraine headaches. more...

Home

E-Base

Edecrin

Effexor

Elavil

Elidel

Eligard

Elitek

Elmiron

Elspar

Emtriva

Endep

Enulose

Epi-pen

Epinephrine

Epirubicin

Epitol

Epivir

Epogen

Eryc

Eryped

Esgic

Esmolol

Estrace

Estring

Estrone

Evista

Exelon

Exemestane

Hexal Australia

Usage and Dosage

Fioricet is usually perscribed for difficult to treat tension headaches as well as migraine. The common dosing schedule is to take 1 - 2 tablets every 4 hours as needed, being careful not to exceed 12 tablets in 24 hours, both to avoid an overdose on the Butalbital and Caffeine, but also because an exceess of 4 grams of Acetaminophen per day causes a serious risk of liver damage.

This usage and dosing info is for informational purposes only and should not be used in place of the instructions of your doctor.

Side Effects

Side effects for any drug are difficult to predict, but commonly reported side effects for Fioricet include:

Abdominal pain
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Intoxicated feeling
Light-headedness
Nausea
Sedation
Addiction

There are other potential side-effects, this list should not be considered all-inclusive.

Dangers and Risks

Fioricet contains acetaminophen, which has been shown to cause Liver damage at higher dosages. Care should be excersized when using Fioricet to prevent possible liver damage. Fioricet also contains Butalbital, which is an addictive, mind (and behavior) altering barbituate. Fioricet can be habit forming. Fioricet should not be mixed with Alcohol, both due to the possibility of exacerbating liver damage in combination with the APAP, and due to increased risk of intoxication in combination with the Butalbital.

There are other potential risks, this list should not be considered all-inclusive.

Read more at Wikipedia.org

• [List your site here Free!]

Drug challenge: You routinely administer combination drugs...
From Nursing, 4/1/03 by Gever, Marcy Portnoff

You routinely administer combination drugs..but do you know what's in them? To find out, match each combination of ingredients in Section II with its correct name in Section 1.

SECTION I

1. Timolide (Merck)

2. Lufyllin-GG (Wallace)

3. Esgic (Forest)

4. Allegra D (Aventis)

5. Excedrin PM (Bristol-Myers Squibb)

SECTION II

a. each 15 ml contains: dyphylline, 100 mg guaifenesin, 100 mg

Used to relieve bronchospasm in patients with chronic bronchitis or emphysema, this drug contains dyphylline, a xanthine-derivative bronchodilator, and guaifenesin, an expectorant. Teach your patient to take doses after meals to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal upset.

b. fexofenadine HCl, 60 mg; pseudoephedrine, 120 mg

This extended-release tablet is prescribed to relieve allergy symptoms and nasal congestion. Fexofenadine is a second-generation nonsedating antihistamine; pseudoephedrine is a decongestant. Warn your patient not to take over-the-counter products that contain an antihistamine or a decongestant while taking this drug.

c. timolol maleate, 10 mg; hydrochlorothiazide, 25 mg

Indicated to control hypertension, this combination contains timolol, a nonselective beta-blocker, and hydrochlorothiazide, a thiazide diuretic. Tell your patient to report difficulty breathing, which can occur with beta-blocker use.

d. diphenhydramine citrate, 38 mg; acetaminophen, 500 mg

This nonprescription combination promotes sleep and relieves minor aches and pains. Diphenhydramine, a first-generation antihistamine and the most sedating one available, is used to produce drowsiness. Acetaminophen, a nonopioid analgesic, relieves pain. Warn your patient not to use this combination with other products that contain an antihistamine and not to take it with alcohol.

e. acetaminophen, 325 mg; caffeine, 40 mg; butalbital, 50 mg

Prescribed to relieve various types of headaches, this combination contains acetaminophen, a nonopioid analgesic; caffeine, to enhance the analgesic effects of acetaminophen; and butalbital, a short-acting barbiturate that provides sedation. Warn your patient that he could experience dizziness and drowsiness while taking this drug.

ANSWERS: 1c, 2a, 3e, 4b, 5d.

Marcy Portnoff Gever is an independent pharmacist consultant and educator in Ringoes, N.J.

Return to Esgic

Home

Contact

Resources

Exchange Links

ebay