My girl friend has been taking Fioricet for many years and can easily be agitated and angered at the smallest issues. Can agitation caused by this medicine?
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Q: If someone is taking Fioricet for migraines can ithe medicine cause a person to become agitated?
Answers (2)
11/30/08 2:33pm
Chriso,
Agitation is a potential side effect of the butalbital in Fioricet.
Agitation can also be a symptom of a Migraine attack. For more inforamtion on this, please see Anatomy of a Migraine.
Your girl friend might want to discuss other medications with her doctor. Fioricet is not usually the recommended first-line treatment for Migraine. It's usually considered a rescue mediction to be used with first-line medications fail. The most commonly prescribed first-line medicatons are the triptans (Imitrex, Maxalt, etc.). These medications actually work in the brain to abort the Migraine, to stop the Migrainous process. You can read about the different types of medications in Preventive, Abortive, and Rescue Mediations - What's the Difference?
Hope this helps,
Teri
11/25/08 2:46pm
Yes. Unfortunately. I take Fioricet (normally for tension headaches) but it's effects are not because of the Migraine. It's because of what Fioricet is. It's a combo of Butalbital, Caffeine and Tylenol ("APAP"). Butalbital is a barbituate. And the caffeine - well we all know what caffeine does.
BUT for some reason, the combo of the three drugs works extremely well with some migraines and primarily with tension headaches.
I have been told, and I have recognzed myself, that my mood does become a bit more "confident." It's like a feeling of boldness and a matter-of-fact attitude. I become more social and can say stuff I would normally be more discrete about. It's the same as someone who's had too much to drink and gets nasty or a little bold - alchohol has the same effects as a barbituate.
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By Chriso— Last Modified: 12/25/10, First Published: 11/24/08
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