Butalbital and Acetaminophen : Before Using

Butalbital and Acetaminophen - Systemic

Butalbital and Acetaminophen *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For butalbital and acetaminophen combinations, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to butalbital or other barbiturates, or to acetaminophen, aspirin, or caffeine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy care

For butalbital : Barbiturates such as butalbital have been shown to increase the risk of birth defects. Always one study has suggested that barbiturates taken during pregnancy may increase the risk of brain tumors in the baby.
Butalbital may cause breathing problems in the newborn baby if taken just before or during delivery.
For acetaminophen : Although studies on birth defects with acetaminophen have not been done in pregnant women, it has not been reported to cause birth defects or other problems.
For caffeine : Studies have not shown that caffeine - contained in some of these combination medication causes birth defects. However, use of large amounts of caffeine during pregnancy may cause problems with the heart rhythm and the growth of the fetus. Always studies in pets have shown that caffeine causes birth defects when given in very large doses - amounts equal to those present in 12 to 24 cups of coffee a day.

Breast-feeding problem

For butalbital : Barbiturates such as butalbital pass into the breast milk and may cause drowsiness, unusually slow heartbeat, shortness of breath, or troubled breathing in nursing babies.
For acetaminophen : Although acetaminophen has not been shown to cause problems in nursing babies, it passes into the breast milk in small amounts.
For caffeine : Caffeine - present in some butalbital and acetaminophen combinations passes into the breast milk in small amounts. Taking caffeine in the amounts present in these medication has not been shown to cause problems in nursing babies. However, studies have shown that nursing babies may appear jittery and have trouble in sleeping when their mothers drink large amounts of caffeine-containing beverages. Therefore, breast-feeding mothers who use caffeine-containing medication must probably limit the amount of caffeine they take in from other medication or from beverages.

Use for Children

For butalbital : Although barbiturates such as butalbital often cause drowsiness, some children become excited after taking them.
For acetaminophen : Acetaminophen has been tested in child and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause various side effects or problems than it does in adults.
For caffeine : There is no special info comparing use of caffeine in child up to 12 years of age with use in other age groups. However, caffeine is not expected to cause various side effects or problems in child than it does in adults.

Elderly care

For butalbital : Certain side effects, such as confusion, excitement, or mental depression, may be especially likely to occur in elderly diseaseds, who are usually more sensitive than younger adults to the effects of the butalbital in this combination drug.
For acetaminophen : Acetaminophen has been tested and has not been shown to cause various side effects or problems in elderly people than it does in adults people.
For caffeine : Many medication have not been studied specifically in elderly people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in adults people or if they cause various side effects or problems in elderly people. There is no specific information comparing use of caffeine in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking a butalbital and acetaminophen combination, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Anticoagulants - blood thinners,
Carbamazepine - Tegretol
Contraceptives, oral - birth control pills containing estrogen,
Corticosteroids - cortisone-like medication
Corticotropin - ACTH Butalbital may make these medication less effective

Antidepressants, tricyclic - amitriptyline " Elavil ", amoxapine " Asendin ", clomipramine " Anafranil ", desipramine " Pertofrane ", doxepin " Sinequan ", imipramine " Tofranil ", nortriptyline " Aventyl ", protriptyline " Vivactil ", trimipramine " Surmontil "
Central nervous system - CNS depressants - medication that often cause drowsiness These medication may add to the effects of butalbital and increase the risk of drowsiness or other side effects

Divalproex - Depakote
Valproic acid - Depakene The risk of side effects may be increased

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of butalbital and acetaminophen combinations. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Alcohol abuse - or history of
Drug abuse or dependence - or history of Dependence on butalbital may develop; also, acetaminophen may cause liver damage in people who abuse alcohol

Asthma - or history of, emphysema, or other chronic lung disease
Hepatitis or other liver disease
Hyperactivity - in child
Kidney disease The risk of serious side effects may be increased

Diabetes mellitus - sugar diabetes
Mental depression
Overactive thyroid
Porphyria - or history of Butalbital can make these conditions worse

Heart disease - severe The caffeine in some butalbital and acetaminophen combinations can make some kinds of heart disease worse