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- $Unique_ID{BRK03032}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{aspirin, caffeine, and butalbital combination}
- $Subject{ B-A-C Mayrand Fiorgen PF Goldline Fiorinal Sandoz Isollyl Improved
- Rugby Lanorinal Lannett Marnal Vortech Analgesic combination sedative aspirin
- caffeine butalbital tension headaches mild moderate pain barbiturates. central
- nervous system brain spinal cord relaxation central nervous system stimulant
- constricts blood vessels head}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1993 Publications International, Ltd.
-
-
- aspirin, caffeine, and butalbital combination
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers)
-
- B-A-C (Mayrand)
- butalbital with aspirin and caffeine (various manufacturers)
- Fiorgen PF (Goldline)
- Fiorinal (Sandoz)
- Isollyl Improved (Rugby)
- Lanorinal (Lannett)
- Marnal (Vortech)
-
- TYPE OF DRUG
-
- Analgesic combination and sedative
-
- INGREDIENTS
-
- aspirin, caffeine, and butalbital
-
- DOSAGE FORMS
-
- Tablets (325 mg aspirin, 40 mg caffeine, and 50 mg butalbital; 650 mg
- aspirin, 40 mg caffeine, and 50 mg butalbital)
- Capsules (325 mg aspirin, 40 mg caffeine, and 50 mg butalbital)
-
- STORAGE
-
- Aspirin, caffeine, and butalbital combination tablets and capsules should
- be stored at room temperature in tightly closed containers. Moisture causes
- the aspirin in this product to decompose. Discard the medicine if it has a
- vinegary odor.
-
- USES
-
- This combination medication is used to relieve tension headaches and mild
- to moderate pain. Butalbital belongs to a group of drugs known as
- barbiturates. The barbiturates act on the central nervous system (brain and
- spinal cord) to produce relaxation. Caffeine is a central nervous system
- stimulant. It constricts blood vessels in the head, which may help to relieve
- headaches.
-
- TREATMENT
-
- To avoid stomach upset, take this drug with food or milk.
- This drug works most effectively if you take it at the onset of pain,
- rather than waiting until the pain is intense.
- If you are taking this medication on a regular schedule and you miss a
- dose, take the missed dose as soon as possible, unless it is almost time for
- your next dose. In that case, don't take the missed dose at all; just return
- to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double the next dose.
-
- SIDE EFFECTS
-
- Minor.
-
- Dizziness, drowsiness, gas, loss of appetite, nausea, nervousness,
- sleeping disorders, or vomiting. These side effects should disappear as your
- body adjusts to the medication.
- If you feel dizzy or light-headed, sit or lie down for a while; get up
- from a sitting or lying position slowly.
-
- Major.
-
- Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
- particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
- bloody or black, tarry stools; chest tightness; confusion; difficult or
- painful urination; light-headedness; loss of coordination; palpitations; rash;
- ringing in the ears; shortness of breath; severe abdominal pain; sore throat
- and fever; or yellowing of the eyes or skin.
-
- INTERACTIONS
-
- This medication interacts with several other types of drugs:
- 1. Concurrent use of this medication with other central nervous system
- depressants (such as alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepine
- tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, and phenothiazine tranquilizers) or with
- tricyclic antidepressants can cause extreme drowsiness.
- 2. Alcohol and anti-inflammatory medications can increase the
- gastrointestinal side effects of this medication.
- 3. The side effects of anticoagulants (blood thinners, such as warfarin),
- oral antidiabetic agents, phenytoin, and methotrexate may be increased by the
- aspirin in this product.
- 4. Large doses of antacids increase the elimination of the aspirin
- portion of this medication from the body and decrease its effectiveness.
- 5. Aspirin may decrease the antigout effects of probenecid and
- sulfinpyrazone.
- 6. Butalbital can increase the elimination from the body of oral
- contraceptives (birth control pills), carbamazepine, adrenocorticosteroids
- (cortisone-like drugs), digoxin, doxycycline, tricyclic antidepressants,
- griseofulvin, metronidazole, theophylline, aminophylline, and quinidine,
- thereby decreasing the effectiveness of these medications.
- 7. The side effects of cyclophosphamide may be increased by butalbital.
- BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are currently
- taking, especially any of those listed above.
-
- WARNINGS
-
- * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
- medications, especially to aspirin, methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen),
- diclofenac, diflunisal, flurbiprofen, fenoprofen, ibuprofen, indomethacin,
- ketoprofen, meclofenamate, mefenamic acid, naproxen, piroxicam, sulindac, or
- tolmetin; to caffeine; or to butalbital or other barbiturates (such as
- phenobarbital, pentobarbital, or secobarbital).
- * Tell your doctor if you now have or if you have ever had bleeding
- problems, blood disorders, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, hemophilia,
- hyperactivity, kidney disease, liver disease, mental depression, peptic
- ulcers, or thyroid disease.
- * If this drug makes you dizzy or drowsy, do not take part in any
- activity that requires alertness, such as driving a car or operating
- potentially dangerous equipment.
- * Before having surgery or any other medical or dental treatment, be sure
- to tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.
- Aspirin-containing medication is usually discontinued five to seven days
- before surgery to prevent bleeding complications.
- * The use of aspirin in children (about 16 years of age or less) in an
- attempt to treat the symptoms of the flu or chicken pox has been associated
- with a rare, life-threatening condition called Reye's syndrome. Therefore, it
- is very important that aspirin-containing products should, not be given to
- children with the signs of these infections.
- * Because this drug contains butalbital, it has the potential for abuse
- and must be used with caution. Tolerance develops quickly; do not increase
- the dosage or stop taking the drug abruptly, unless you first consult your
- doctor. If you have been taking large amounts of this medication for long
- periods, you may experience a withdrawal reaction (muscle aches, diarrhea,
- convulsions, sleep disorders, nervousness, irritability, or weakness). Your
- doctor may, therefore, want to reduce the dosage gradually.
- * Because this product contains aspirin, additional medications that
- contain aspirin should not be taken without your physician's approval. Check
- the labels on over-the-counter (nonprescription) pain, sinus, allergy, asthma,
- cough, and cold products to see if they contain aspirin.
- * You should not take more than six tablets or capsules of this drug in
- one day, unless your doctor specifically directs you to do so.
- * Diabetic patients should be aware that large doses of aspirin (more
- than eight 325-mg tablets or capsules per day) may interfere with urine sugar
- testing. Diabetics should, therefore, check with their doctor before changing
- their insulin dose.
- * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. The effects of this
- medication during pregnancy have not been thoroughly studied in humans.
- Butalbital, used regularly in large doses during pregnancy, may result in
- addiction of the fetus, leading to withdrawal symptoms (irritability,
- excessive crying, tremors, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, sneezing, or excessive
- yawning) at birth. Large amounts of aspirin taken close to the end of
- pregnancy may prolong labor and cause bleeding problems in the mother and
- heart problems in the newborn infant. Also, tell your doctor if you are
- breast-feeding an infant. Small amounts of this medication may pass into
- breast milk and cause excessive drowsiness in the nursing infant.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-