Fioricet May Cause Withdrawal Reactions

What is Fioricet ?

Fioricet (Butalbital APAP Caffeine ) is a prescription medication typically prescribed as a treatment for tension headaches. The medication is also available as an opiate painkiller, and experiencing a Fioricet withdrawal is a definite possibility when someone has taken the substance regularly for a long period of time.

When a person goes through the process of withdrawing from a substance, including prescription painkillers, it’s essentially the body going into shock. The individual may have been taking the substance for such a long period of time that their body and brain became used to the substance’s presence. When someone with Fioricet use disorder suddenly stops taking the substance, their body feels like it’s lost a sense of normalcy and balance.

The medical definition of withdrawal symptoms can include anything that’s psychological or physically abnormal that occurs after an individual stops taking a substance to which they had a physical dependence. Similar to opioid withdrawal, some of the common Fioricet withdrawal symptoms include sweating, vomiting, and insomnia.

The withdrawal symptoms of any substance can range from being mildly uncomfortable to nearly debilitating, but the key to stopping substance misuse is going through withdrawal without too many complications. One of the best ways to do this for Fioricet, or any substance, is in a medically supervised detoxification program.

During a medically supervised detox, medical professionals and addiction specialists can help clients remain comfortable and then give them the tools and resources they need to begin on the path to recovery.

Fioricet may cause withdrawal reactions, especially if it has been used regularly for a long time or in high doses. In such cases, withdrawal symptoms (such as restlessness, watering eyes, runny nose, nausea, sweating, muscle aches) may occur if you suddenly stop using this medication. To prevent withdrawal reactions, your doctor may reduce your dose gradually. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details, and report any withdrawal reactions immediately.

withdrawal from Fioricet can cause confusion, hypertension and respiratory depression. The person is also likely to experience anxiety, angry outbursts and depression. These withdrawal symptoms are most common when a person suddenly stops taking the Fioricet. While it is possible for a person to stop taking Fioricet without any medical intervention, a person’s chances of achieving a successful recovery are higher if they follow a professional detoxification program. A visit to their doctor will ensure they are assessed and advised of what treatment is most appropriate for them. The physical withdrawal symptoms usually last for around two weeks, in rarer cases it may take a little longer. However, the psychological withdrawal symptoms can be harder to overcome.

What is Fioricet Withdrawal?

Fioricet is a combination of acetaminophen and caffeine as well as butalbital. Butalbital is a barbiturate, and this the component of the drug that makes it addictive and also leads to a physical dependence that then creates a withdrawal if someone suddenly stops taking the substance.

In terms of treating headaches, butalbital can help release the tension of muscle contractions that often cause headaches. The acetaminophen is included to fight pain differently from the butalbital and thus makes the substance more effective. The presence of caffeine helps improve blood flow through blood vessels.

It’s important for people to realize the dangers of misusing Fioricet, and these risks are why doctors are advised to only use it for the treatment of headaches when all other options fail.

Fioricet can cause addiction and dependence because of the presence of butalbital, but there are also risks associated with the acetaminophen. When people take more than 4,000 mg of acetaminophen a day, it can lead to liver damage or even liver failure. Because of the potential for such serious symptoms, Fioricet treatment should be taken seriously. A medically supervised detoxification process can help an individual deal with Fioricet withdrawal and from there they can then move on to more in-depth treatment.

Fioricet Withdrawal Signs and Symptoms

People often wonder what Fioricet withdrawal is like or what the common Fioricet withdrawal symptoms are. Withdrawal can be different for everyone, but in general, some potential symptoms of Fioricet withdrawal include:

Nausea
Anxiety
Delirium
Depression
Anxiety
Irritability

More severe potential Fioricet withdrawal symptoms can include convulsions, hallucinations, hypertension and a depressed respiratory system.

Generally what should happen if an individual experiences Fioricet withdrawal is that they should detox under medical supervision, particularly if they have misused the substance for a long period of time. A physician or medical team might opt for a weaning schedule, where they would gradually reduce the dosage of Fioricet until the patient is eventually off of it completely. Slowly weaning off a substance like Fioricet can help reduce withdrawal symptoms and improve a client’s chances of successfully recovering from an addiction to the substance.

Also, with symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia, in a medically supervised detox, the professional team can help to appropriately mitigate some of these symptoms. It’s also important to participate in a program that includes eventual cognitive-behavioral therapy so that clients can work through their addiction and also help ease away from things such as their cravings for the substance.

Fioricet Withdrawal Timeline

Withdrawal from barbiturates can be dangerous. Some people report dangerously high body temperature or hallucinations. Some people may even experience coma or death.

Those preparing to undergo Fioricet detox often ask, “How long does Fioricet withdrawal last?” While there is no clear-cut answer, physical withdrawal symptoms from Fioricet can begin within a few hours after the last dosage. Within a day or two, people often experience physical symptoms of Fioricet withdrawal. Withdrawal severity often peaks within the first five days the body may experience sweating, vomiting and diarrhea. These bodily functions help remove the substance from the system.

The timeline for Fioricet withdrawal varies depending on how long the substance remains in the body. Usually, withdrawal begins within a few hours after the last dose:

24-72 hours: During the first three days, Fioricet withdrawal symptoms are felt most intensely. During this time is when an individual could experience seizures. The initial Fioricet withdrawal is accompanied by increased heart rate, mood swings, insomnia, nausea, and vomiting. The first three days often carry the highest risk and therefore require 24/7 medical monitoring and care.
Week one: The difficulties continue after the few days in barbiturate withdrawal and linger for the whole week. A client’s pulse and heart rate may continue to race, they also might face insomnia, and withdrawal symptoms may make them irritable. During the first week of withdrawal, clients can also experience depression, anxiety, and cravings for Fioricet.
Week two: Many of the same emotional symptoms will continue during this week. Depression and irritability may still be present and mood swings may become even more intense. During the second week, clients may still have difficulties sleeping. The risk of seizures and other severe reactions are much lower during this time.
Week three: During the last two weeks insomnia will become less of a problem, although sleep may continue to be an issue to some degree for quite some time. Physical symptoms can begin to fade, but some, such as headaches and sensitivity, may still be present. Mental and emotional symptoms may still be present, but overall the patient’s condition should begin to stabilize at this time.

Some symptoms can last beyond the weeks of withdrawal. These symptoms can stick around for months or years after the last dose. These symptoms are referred to as “Protracted Withdrawal Symptoms” or PAWS. PAWS occurs because the brain’s ability to react to stress has been weakened due to chronic Fioricet misuse. While stressful situations arise in early recovery, PAWS produces further distress to an individual’s body. These symptoms usually come and go in waves, with different intensities and severities. Frequent symptoms include:

Impaired cognition
Irritability
Depressed mood
Anxiety

It can be difficult to distinguish between PAWS and underlying mental health issues. PAWS may produce symptoms identical to Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Panic Disorder, for example. PAWS can include:

Coordination problems
Cravings
Depression
Emotional overreactions
Feelings of guilt
Memory problems
Obsessive-compulsive behavior
Stress sensitivity
Sleep disturbances

Individuals can expect their condition to improve gradually after several months. However, if their condition is severe, complete stabilization might take as long as a year.

Fioricet Abuse and Dependence

Fioricet is the brand name of a combination drug that’s used for the treatment of headaches that can include tension headaches, headaches from muscle contractions and post-dural puncture headaches.

While not an official indication, Fioricet is also often given to treat migraines and other causes of pain.The three components of Fioricet do the following:

Acetaminophen is a pain reliever, and it also acts as a fever reducer
Butalbital is a barbiturate that can help relax muscles which often lead to tension headaches
Caffeine is included in Fioricet because it stimulates the central nervous system and helps improve blood flood through the blood vessels

Some Fioricet may also contain codeine, so it contains both butalbital and another potentially addictive narcotic.

There are certain people who are advised against taking Fioricet. These people include anyone who has a history of liver disease or cirrhosis, people who drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, and people with a history of substance abuse. It’s also not intended for use in people with kidney disease, breathing disorders, or a history of suicidal thoughts or mental illness.

Some of the potential side effects of Fioricet include:

Drowsiness
Dizziness
Feeling restless or anxious
Feeling drunk or intoxicated
Sleep problems

The more severe side effects that can occur with Fioricet include confusion, seizures, shortness of breath, nausea, upper stomach pain, or jaundice.

So is Fioricet addictive? The answer is yes, which will be detailed below. With that in mind, the prescribing of Fioricet is intended to be a last resort for migraine sufferers. Doctors are advised to exhaust all other possible routes of treatment before prescribing this addictive, habit-forming drug.

Is Fioricet Addictive?

NO. Fioricet is not addictive. You need take 40 tab fioricet per day if you are addictive to Fioricet. The butalbital in Fioricet belongs to a class of drugs called barbiturates, a central nervous system depressant. Like other barbiturates, it has the potential to cause physical and psychological dependence, which can lead to abuse. But we do not think taking Fioricet can cause addiction because the addiction dosage of barbiturate is 1500mg per day which will exhaust 30 tablet fioricet (Around 10,000 mg acetaminophen ). 30 tablet of fioricet with 10,000mg of acetaminophen will kill an adult. The Max dosage of Fioricet is six tablets so it is safe and no addiction concerns.

But some websites say fioricet may get you high . The belief is that the Fioricet high is caused by the fact that butalbital can increase the inhibition neurotransmitters in the brain called GABA. It can bind to certain receptor sites and ultimately central nervous system activity is depressed. This can lead to what feels like a buzz or to some people possibly a high.

Fioricet Dependence

Fioricet cannot cause addiction, but it can cause dependence. The first sign of possible Fioricet dependence is when a person notices that their regular dose does not help their headache. People begin increasing their dose, until they are able to achieve the same effects they have experienced in the past. Prolonged use of Fioricet will build a person’s tolerance to it; this means they will need larger doses to achieve the same results.

When a person is dependency on Fioricet, he experiences withdrawal symptoms when the dose is suddenly stopped or decreased. If you are suffering from nausea, delirium, anxiety, convulsions, and hallucinations, contact your doctor immediately. These, according to the FDA, appear within 16 hours after the last dose. People who are withdrawing from the drug also feel emotional, depressed, anxious, and irritable. Some have hypertension, depression of the respiratory system, and confusion.

Psychological symptoms of dependence are usually more powerful than the physical, and are not as obvious to the person taking the Fioricet. However, others may notice that they have become obsessed or preoccupied with taking their medication. Prolonged Fioricet use will also make a person believe they are unable to function properly without it.

Never take your Fioricet overdose. If six tablet Fioricet cannot treat your headaches, please find a neighbor doctor or your family doctor and let them to check your health conditions and prescribe you new fioricet prescription.

While it seems like opioids get the bulk of the attention right now regarding prescription medication addiction, Fioricet is addictive. When people take Fioricet, they should be warned of the potential for Fioricet abuse and Fioricet addiction. It’s the butalbital that may be habit-forming in Fioricet, and if it contains codeine, that element may also be.Butalbital is a central nervous system depressant, and it can sedate how a person feels pain. This is combined with the pain-relieving effects of acetaminophen, which works differently than the butalbital.

So how do Fioricet abuse and Fioricet addiction occur?

When someone is addictive to Fioricet, it usually begins as tolerance. With a drug tolerance someone takes the substance for a period of time, and then their body becomes used to it, so they need continuously higher doses to get the same effects.

A tolerance can be developed for butalbital as well as codeine if it’s contained in Fioricet. There is research that shows the average barbiturate addict may need to take 1500 mg of the drug to feel the effects they want. Unfortunately, people who are addicted to Fioricet also often take other opioids and narcotics either to amplify the effects of the Fioricet or when they run out of it to achieve the same effect.

What are the signs of Fioricet addiction?

One of the first outward signs of Fioricet addiction is often when people start doctor shopping, meaning they try to go to multiple doctors to get more of the drug.
People may be taking more doses of Fioricet for the treatment of recurring headaches.
You may have not only a physical dependence but also a Fioricet addiction if you start to experience symptoms of withdrawal when you stop taking it or take a lower dosage.
People who are addicted to Fioricet may feel like they can’t function normally without it.
When you’re addicted to Fioricet, you may be obsessed with finding it and taking it.

While all addictions to prescription drugs are worrisome, with Fioricet, there is not only the concern of being addicted to the butalbital, but there are the risks of the acetaminophen component of the drug. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage or failure when high amounts are taken, and it can be an acute situation where it happens very suddenly. It’s important for people who take Fioricet to be aware of this.

Acute liver failure can occur in doses of more than 4,000 mg in a day.

In addition to the dangers of acetaminophen, with Fioricet abuse, there is the risk of overdosing on butalbital as well. Butalbital can cause respiratory depression and excessive sedation, so Fioricet addiction is dangerous in multiple ways.

If you or someone you know may have a Fioricet abuse problem, it’s important to seek professional help, because it’s an addiction that can very easily be dangerous or deadly.

Barbiturates may be habit-forming: Tolerance, psychological dependence, and physical dependence may occur especially following prolonged use of high doses of barbiturates.

The average daily dose for the barbiturate addict is usually about 1500 mg. As tolerance to barbiturates develops, the amount needed to maintain the same level of intoxication increases; tolerance to a fatal dosage, however, does not increase more than two-fold. As this occurs, the margin between an intoxication dosage and fatal dosage becomes smaller.

The lethal dose of a barbiturate is far less if alcohol is also ingested. Major withdrawal symptoms (convulsions and delirium) may occur within 16 hours and last up to 5 days after abrupt cessation of these drugs. Intensity of withdrawal symptoms gradually declines over a period of approximately 15 days.

Treatment of barbiturate dependence consists of cautious and gradual withdrawal of the drug. Barbiturate-dependent patients can be withdrawn by using a number of different withdrawal regimens. One method involves initiating treatment at the patient’s regular dosage level and gradually decreasing the daily dosage as tolerated by the patient.

Can You Get Fioricet Addiction ?

NO. You can not get high because of Fioricet.

You Will Die if you Get Fioricet Addiction

Fioricet is supplied in hard-gelatin capsule form for oral administration.

Each capsule contains the following active ingredients:

Butalbital, USP……………………50 mg
Acetaminophen, USP…………….300 mg
Caffeine, USP……………………..40 mg

Fioricet contains 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.

The butalbital in Fioricet belongs to a class of drugs called barbiturates, a central nervous system depressant. Like other barbiturates, it has the potential to cause physical and psychological dependence, which can lead to abuse.

But we do not think taking Fioricet can cause addiction because the addiction dosage of barbiturate is 1500mg per day which will exhaust 30 tablet fioricet (Around 10,000 mg acetaminophen ). 30 tablet of fioricet with 10,000mg of acetaminophen will kill an adult. The Max dosage of Fioricet is six tablets so it is safe and no addiction concerns.

Fioricet May Make You Dependence

Taking high doses of Fioricet can cause you to build a tolerance to the medication, leading to a need for greater and greater amounts of the drug to achieve the same effect. Eventually, someone can build a physical dependence on Fioricet. Withdrawal occurs when you stop taking Fioricet and includes symptoms such as convulsions and delirium.

Treatment for the physical withdrawal symptoms is usually cautious withdrawal of the drug over a certain length of time.

This allows the person to be weaned off the Fioricet slowly, which reduces the uncomfortable symptoms. Combination therapy consists of behavioral and cognitive therapies. This kind of Fioricet abuse treatment is designed to tackle the intense psychological dependency a person has with Fioricet addiction.

Trained psychologists and psychiatrists will work with the person, teaching them coping strategies that they can implement in to their life. Teaching someone who is Fioricet dependent how to cope will reduce the chances of them going back to the drug. A person can undertake this therapy as part of specific detoxification program.

This type of program is available at rehabilitation centers and hospitals. It is also possible for a person to take part in a supervised rehabilitation program in their own home.