New drug Fioricit for headache

[snoozie]

Hi guys, I saw my pain doc today and she gave me a new med called Fioricit for my headaches. I am wondering if anyone here has any firsthand info about it. I haven't filled the script yet so I am kinda hoping to get some feedback on it. Thanks...SUe

[Tbackpain1]

Hey Sue,

I haven't taken it, but I have heard of it. It's a combination capsule with butalbital, acetaminophen, caffeine, and codeine. Just be carefule while on this medication about OTC meds that contain tylenol and of course, make sure there are no interactions with any other medications you may be one.

I hope it works for you.

Theresa

[jane2]

I took Fioricet for many years and it did help a great deal with my migraines. There is also Fioricet #3, which has codeine in it. This was I mean migraine medication for years.

I found I was getting more and more headaches and eventually started to get rebound headaches from the Fioricet and that can happen with many medications, especially medications that include Tylenol. I found that if I took it more than two or three times a week I would get this rebound headache. The difference between a rebound headache and a regular headache is that it doesn't go away until you stop taking the offending drug and you have to be off it for about 10 days, which was pretty awful.

I never tried Fioricet #3 until recently. . It really upset my stomach, but my stomach is extremely delicate right now. So I doubt that would be a problem for most people.

If you don't have migraines every day or extremely bad ones, Fioricet is a very good headache drug. Somehow the combination of different medications works together very well, especially if you take it right when the headache is coming on.

My problem is is that I got a lot of headaches around my period, maybe 10 days straight and that would send me into a rebound cycle. That probably won't happen to you and doesn't happen to everybody.

Despite the negative things I said I t, hink it's a very good headache medication and very effective.

[snoozie]

Thanks Theresa and Jane. One more question for ya though, I also take Lortab 7.5/500 usually 2 times a day but sometimes 3 if it is a bad day. Is the 500 acetominephin and if it is how much is too much in a day? It isn't that often that my headaches get out of control but from what I have learned here I think that I will give the fioricit a try. ...Sue

[jane2]

I think you can take up to 4 grams a day but, too much Tylenol daily is not good for your kidneys. So if your taking a lot of Lortab for pain on a daily basis, you might want to try narco. That has less Tylenol or even a long acting painkiller if it's for daily pain.

Since it doesn't sound like you have a lot of migraines, I wouldn't worry about the Tylenol in the fioricet.

[snoozie]

What is narco for pain? I am taking probably at the most 3 lortabs a day but that is not everyday. Usually 2 will do me if I don't overdo it. I was wondering also about the tylenol and what is it doing to me. I will talk to the doc about it next time I see her. Also how often should I have a blood test to monitor things like my liver, kidney or whatever else? ...Sue

[jane2]

Tylenol is not that good for that kidneys long-term and is not recommended for daily use, but you're not on that much. I wouldn't worry right now but, long-term you might consider other options down the line is your pain gets worse and you find you're taking more pills more often. There are many people on way more then you are.

Narco is the same as lortab with less Tylenol. You can get hydrocodone without Tylenol, but it's not as effective.

I wouldn't worry too much right now as you're not on a lot. I wouldn't get freaked out about the lortab or the fioricet. Doesn't sound like you have that many headaches. If things get worse down the line, you might consider changing medications too long acting opiate. But that is for round-the-clock use and it doesn't sound like you need that so why even get into that at this stage.

I really don't think you much to worry about, but it's good to know that Tylenol isn't totally harmless to the body the way people think it is.

[snoozie]

thanks Jane, I am new to this as I fought taking pain pills on a daily basis for a long time. I am trying to get back to work so that is why I am trying to get the pain down and still be able to do something. I was worrying about the tylenol so thanks for the input on that, I won't let the fear of too much keep me from keeping the pain under control...Sue

[jane2]

As I said, if you're really concerned, down the line you might find long acting opiates more effective and less worry about Tylenol, but as you're not on much, there's probably no need to get into all that now. It puts you in a Whole other category of patient. One step at a time. Right now it's about getting a little bit of your life back.

[snoozie]

Hi Jane, I am also on 4 other medications so that is my concern about taking too much medicine and what it is doing to me. I am taking skelaxin, pamelor, gabitril and zanaflex in addition to the lortab and now she wants to add the fioricit. I know that skelaxin and zanaflex are both muscle relaxers so i take the skelaxin during the day and one 4mg zanaflex at night to help me sleep. I do have a headache every day, it just varies in intensity. I also have syringomyelia along with many spinal problems so the pain is pretty much there all the time but I am trying to learn to live with it. Maybe I should talk to her about other options instead of the lortab. I also wonder how often should I have a blood workup? Thanks for all the input I really do appreciate all of the shared knowledge...Sue

[Tbackpain1]

Hey Sue,

I just wanted to let you know that the brand name of the medication is "Norco", not narco. Norco is a fixed combination medication, like Lortab. Norco contains 10mg hydrocodone/325mg Tylenol. Lortab I believe is 5mg hydrocodone/500 mg Tylenol, and it also comes in 7.5 mg Hydrocodone/750 Tylenol.

I'm on a similar mix of meds for my spinal issues. I take Skelaxin 3x/day, Tramadol, Norco, and I am also on the long acting medication, Fentanyl patch 25 micrograms every 48hrs.

There are lots of different medications you can take, and in varying combinations. Dont' get frustrated if the first couple of times are a wash, with side effects and stuff. Medicine isn't an exact science, especially when it comes to treating something as subjective as pain. I personally get my bloodwork done twice a year and I also give a urine sample to check the kidneys, just to make sure everything is in good working order. I have a broad range of tests done (usually 5-6 tubes of blood), from the general physical stuff (CBC, chem 20, H&H, etc), and liver and kidney tests. Its really up to your primary care doc, but mine tends to be more proactive towards preventative medicine (he's a D.O.) so he's got no problems staying on top of things before there's a crisis.

Good luck to you.

Theresa

[jane2]

Thanks Theresa, for clarifying the information about Norco. :)


I have taken most of those, except Pamelor. They all have side effects but I don't know how toxic they are to the body. I think the best advice is getting a full checkup like Theresa said. That and read about all the side effects and drug interactions.

I rotate a lot of my medications, but take at least three or four day. Right now I'm on Avinza, Neurontin, Valium and ambien to sleep. I use take zanaflex but it interfered with my sleep. It would not me out completely and that I would wake up four hours later. However it is a really powerful muscle relaxer.

There are of course unwanted side effects to some of of my medications.. In my case bloating and memory loss and constipation. But it's better than being in pain.

[gambles]

After 25 yearsof migraines and a three page double column list of medicatiions I have tried both off and on label, my doctor finally took me back for Fiorinal, but he told me to take it WITH Imitrex!!! I had used both Fiorinal and Fioricet back in the 80's ish I think. I can't take anything with Tylenol since it is my worst external migraine trigger, so I stick to the Fiorinal.

When I take the Fiorinal and Imitrex, I usually get drowsy which is a side effect I don't even get from medicines designed to make you drowsy. 99% of the time I have moderate relief and well over 50% of the time, that med combo actual completely knocks out a migraine that has me vomiting and unable to tolerate even the sound of the refrigerator in the front room.

Definitely try the Fioricet and if your doctor ok's it, you might want to take it with whatever triptan works best for you.

Good luck,
Suzanne

[DiMarie]

I have been perscribed Fioricet/codine for eyars. I am allowed 10 capsuls a month. I do not need that many. I have to be able to tell if the headaches are stress brought on or true migraines, or cervogenic in nature from a flare in the cervical nerves and upper trap spasms.

I found that the best thing to take actually is Toradol 10 mg awtih a oxycodone 5/325 (percocette). Even better then the Endocette they filled beofre, thi is the better of the cobinations.

When we say migraine and headache, the caffine and Phenegren part of the med is what they perscribe, but sometimes it is the anti inflamatory and for me the oxycodone to really kick in. Otherwise I can ahve that headache for several days. If the first Fioricet/codine does not work, I go right to toradol and oxycodone.

Dianne

[Shelley]

Hi,

I have used Fiorcet for over a decade for migraines. Along the way, my doc always tried to get me to use the latest and greatest and I always tied but kept coming back to Fiorcet.

I always thought they were hormonal migraines but now that I have been diagnosed with TOS I can see that they might have been caused more by spasms etc.

[KRISSY]

thanks Theresa And Jane. One More Question For Ya Though, I Also Take Lortab 7.5/500 Usually 2 Times A Day But Sometimes 3 If It Is A Bad Day. Is The 500 Acetominephin And If It Is How Much Is Too Much In A Day? It Isn't That Often That My Headaches Get Out Of Control But From What I Have Learned Here I Think That I Will Give The Fioricit A Try. ...sue

I Was Wondering What Are You Getting The Lortab Perscribe For?...just Your Headaches?...and How Can You Get It So Easy? I Need It For Head Pain From My Brain Surgery, But Once I Finished He Didn't Want To Give Me Anymore!! :) Thanks, Krissy!!