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We’ve all had a variety of headaches from time to time. Sleeping, drinking water, or taking aspirin or Tylenol allows you to get rid of these “tension headaches” (as doctors call them) quickly and easily.
But if you suffer from severe or chronic tension headaches, you know that headaches can take over your work and home life. A study by the American Headache Society shows that 70% of people with chronic headaches have significant problems with daily functioning due to headaches.
Migraine sufferers have symptoms in addition to the headache; they may spend days each month in a dark room because the pain and sensitivity to light are excruciating otherwise.
Fioricet: a new option
Fioricet is one of the medications that researchers have developed to control headaches. It has been found to be effective for tension headaches. While studies have not shown it to be effective for migraineurs in general, some people with migraines seem to find it helpful as well.
Fioricet gets its effect from three different ingredients that attack different “parts” of your headache, just like a good laundry detergent has different ingredients to fight grease, odors and dirt.
So how does the dynamic trio work?
Fioricet has three parts, two of which may be old friends:
butalbital
acetaminophen
Caffeine
Butalbital is a barbiturate; Like other barbiturates, it has a relaxing effect. Butalbital will help you relax and make you feel a bit sleepy, which seems to help with tension headaches.
Acetaminophen is a medication that you may recognize as the active ingredient in Tylenol. It can help relieve pain, especially when combined with a relaxant.
Caffeine gives you the “buzz” you may feel after drinking tea, coffee, cola, or eating chocolate. Caffeine helps reduce blood flow to the brain. Many scientists believe that “too much” blood flowing to the brain is part of what causes chronic tension headaches, so caffeine may reduce that effect.
Fioricet as part of your pain management system
As headache sufferers, anything that can help get our lives back on track sounds like a godsend. But there are a couple of questions to ask yourself before talking to your doctor about a prescription.
or Do I have migraines? If you don’t know, discuss your symptoms with your doctor before deciding that Fioricet is a good option for you.
o Is operating heavy machinery or driving a lot a part of my daily life? If you take too much Fioricet or are very sensitive to barbiturates, you can create the feelings and behaviors of someone who has had too much alcohol. Being “drunk” is not a good combination with operating a tow truck or taking carloads of children to school, soccer practice, or going to the library!
o Do I need a pain reliever at least once a day? Fioricet can make you dependent on it. Dependence can lead to “rebound headaches” (headaches when the drug leaves your system) and even more serious health consequences. Your doctor may suggest that you use Fioricet as a “backup” medication, to be used on days when your regular medication does not work. And if you have previously experienced dependence on another drug (including alcohol), then this drug is not for you.
I’ve thought about it, so what’s my next step?
Take the prescription to your local pharmacy or online pharmacy so it’s ready to use at the sign of the first persistent headache. Talking to your doctor about any problems or side effects, such as dizziness or drowsiness, will help you manage this medication and can make it part of your plan for a pain-free life!