Check with your family doctor :
Check the labels of all nonprescription - over-the-counter "OTC " and prescription medication you now take. If any contain a narcotic, a barbiturate, aspirin, or other salicylates, including diflunisal, check with your family doctor or pharmacist . Taking them together with this drug may cause an overdose.
The barbiturate and the codeine in this drug will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants - medication that slow down the nervous system, possibly causing drowsiness. Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or drug for hay fever, other allergies, or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping drug; other prescription pain drug or narcotics; other barbiturates; drug for seizures; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Always stomach problems may be more likely to occur if you drink alcoholic beverages while you are taking aspirin. Therefore, do not drink alcoholic beverages and check with your family doctor before taking any of the medication listed above, while you are using this drug .
This drug may cause some people to become drowsy, dizzy, or lightheaded, or to feel a false sense of well-being Make sure you know how you react to this drug before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert and clearheaded .
Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur, especially when you get up suddenly from a lying or sitting position. Getting up slowly may help lessen this problem. Lying down for a while may relieve these effects.
Nausea or vomiting may occur, especially after the first couple of doses. This effect may go away if you lie down for a while. However, if nausea or vomiting continues, check with your family doctor.
Before having any kind of surgery - including dental surgery or emergency treat, tell the family doctor or dentist in charge that you are taking this drug. Serious side effects can occur if your family doctor or dentist gives you certain medication without knowing that you have taken a barbiturate or codeine.
Do not take this drug for 5 days before any planned surgery, including dental surgery, unless otherwise directed by your family doctor or dentist. Taking aspirin during this time may cause bleeding problems.
Before you have any medical tests, tell the person in charge that you are taking this drug. The caffeine in the butalbital, aspirin and codeine combination interferes with the results of certain tests that use dipyridamole - Persantine to help show how well blood is flowing to your heart. Caffeine must not be taken for 8 to 12 hours before the test. The results of some other tests may also be effected by this drug.
If you have been taking large amounts of this drug, or if you have been taking it regularly for few weeks or more, do not suddenly stop using it without first checking with your family doctor . Your family doctor may want you to reduce gradually the amount you are taking before stopping completely, to lessen the risk of withdrawal side effects.
If you think you or anyone else may have taken an overdose of this drug, get emergency help at once . Taking an overdose of this drug or taking alcohol or CNS depressants with this drug may lead to unconsciousness or death. Signs of overdose of this drug include convulsions - seizures; hearing loss; confusion; ringing or buzzing in the ears; severe excitement, nervousness, or restlessness; severe dizziness; severe drowsiness; unusually slow or troubled breathing; and severe weakness.