We’ve all had assorted headaches from time to time. Sleeping, drinking water, or taking aspirin or Tylenol allows you to get rid of these “tension headaches” (as doctors call them) quickly and easily.

But if you suffer from severe or chronic tension headaches, you know that headaches can take over your work and home life. A study by the American Headache Society shows that 70% of people with chronic headaches have significant problems with daily functioning due to headaches.

Migraine sufferers have symptoms in addition to the headache; they may spend days each month in a dark room because the pain and light sensitivity are otherwise unbearable.

Fioricet: a new option

Fioricet is one of the drugs that researchers have developed to control headaches. It has been found to be effective for tension headaches. While studies have not shown it to be effective for migraine sufferers in general, some people with migraines seem to find it helpful as well.

Fioricet gets its effect from three different ingredients that attack different “parts” of your headache, just like a good laundry detergent has different ingredients to fight grease, odors, and grime.

So how does the dynamic trio work?

Fioricet has three parts, two of which may be old friends:

butalbital

Acetominophen

Caffeine

Butalbital is a barbiturate; like other barbiturates, it has a relaxing effect. Butalbital will help you relax and make you feel a little drowsy, which seems to help with tension headaches.

Acetaminophen is a drug you may recognize as the active ingredient in Tylenol. It can help relieve pain, especially when combined with a relaxant.

Caffeine gives you the “buzz” you may feel after drinking tea, coffee, colas, or eating chocolate. Caffeine helps reduce blood flow to the brain. Many scientists believe that “too much” blood flowing to the brain is part of what causes chronic tension headaches, so caffeine may reduce that effect.

Fioricet as part of your pain management system

As headache sufferers, anything that can help get our lives back on track sounds like a gift from God. But there are a couple of questions to ask yourself before you talk to your doctor about a prescription.

o Do I have migraines? If you don’t know, discuss your symptoms with your doctor before deciding that Fioricet is a good option for you.

o Is operating heavy machinery or driving a lot part of my daily life? If you take too much Fioricet or if you are very sensitive to barbiturates, you can create the feelings and behavior of someone who has consumed too much alcohol. Being “drunk” is not a good combination with operating a crane or taking cars full of children to school, soccer practice or going to the library!

o Do I need a pain reliever at least once a day? Fioricet can make you dependent on it. Dependence can lead to “rebound headaches” (headaches when the drug leaves your system) and even more serious health consequences. Your doctor may suggest that you use Fioricet as a “backup” medication, to use on days when your regular medication doesn’t work. And if you have previously experienced dependence on another drug (including alcohol), this medication is not for you.

I’ve thought about it, so what’s my next step?

Take the prescription to your local pharmacy or online pharmacy so it is ready for use at the sign of the first persistent headache. Talking with your doctor about any problems or side effects, such as dizziness or drowsiness, will help you manage this medication and may make it part of your plan for pain-free living!