ioricet capsules contain a combination of acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine. Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer. Butalbital is in a group of drugs called barbiturates. It relaxes muscle contractions involved in a tension headache. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. It relaxes muscle contractions in blood vessels to improve blood flow.
Fioricet is used to treat tension headaches that are caused by muscle contractions.
Extended and repeated use of Fioricet is not recommended because of the potential for physical dependence.
Butalbital has a half-life of about 35 hours. Acetaminophen has a half-life of about 1.25 to 3 hours, but may be increased by liver damage and after an overdose. Caffeine has a half-life of about 2.5 to 4.5 hours.
How Fioricet works
Fioricet is a combination of three medications that work together to help relieve headache pain.
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Butalbital is a barbiturate that works by raising the levels of chemicals that cause your brain to relax.
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Acetaminophen is an analgesic. It stops the production of certain chemicals in your brain, which can help relieve pain.
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Caffeine is an adenosine antagonist. It blocks a natural chemical in your body called adenosine. It’s unclear exactly how caffeine works to treat headaches, but it’s thought to boost the pain-relieving activity of acetaminophen.