Fioricet is a controlled substance in some states. Because it contains butalbital, a medication that can be misused and cause dependence, some state governments place strict regulations on Fioricet. But it’s not classified as a controlled substance in all states because it contains acetaminophen. Initially, regulators believed that the acetaminophen in Fioricet discourages people from misusing Fioricet. This is because taking too much acetaminophen can cause harm, such as liver damage.
Fioricet on its own is not a federally controlled substance. Although it contains butalbital, it’s on the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)’s list of exempted prescription products. But some states do classify BAC as a controlled substance.
Other combinations that contain Fioricet or are similar to Fioricet 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.
In April 2022, the DEA proposed removing the exemption for Fioricet. The proposed rule change would add all products that contain butalbital to its list of Schedule III controlled substances.
So regulators left it up to the states to decide on how to classify Fioricet. But recent data shows that the acetaminophen in Fioricet might not be enough to stop people from misusing this medication. There’s a possibility that the classification of Fioricet might change in the future. Fioricet is a controlled substance in some states. Because it contains butalbital, a medication that can be misused and cause dependence, some state governments place strict regulations on Fioricet.
But it’s not classified as a controlled substance in all states because it contains acetaminophen. Initially, regulators believed that the acetaminophen in Fioricet discourages people from misusing Fioricet. This is because taking too much acetaminophen can cause harm, such as liver damage. So regulators left it up to the states to decide on how to classify Fioricet. But recent data shows that the acetaminophen in Fioricet might not be enough to stop people from misusing this medication.
There’s a possibility that the classification of Fioricet might change in the future.