What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
-Frequently drink alcohol
-Kidney disease
-Liver disease
-Porphyria
-Substance use disorder
-An unusual or allergic reaction to butalbital, acetaminophen, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
-Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
-Breastfeeding
What may interact with this medication?
Do not take this medication with any of the following medications:
-Alcohol
This medication may also interact with the following medications:
-Antihistamines for allergy, cough, and cold
-Any medication that contains acetaminophen
-Barbiturates, such as phenobarbital
-Estrogen and progestin hormones
-MAOIs, such as Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
-Medications for depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions
-Medications for pain
-Medications for sleep
-Muscle relaxants
-Other opioid medications
-Warfarin
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medication?
Tell your care team if your pain does not go away, if it gets worse, or if you have new or a different type of pain. You may develop tolerance to this medication. Tolerance means that you will need a higher dose of the medication for pain relief. Tolerance is normal and is expected if you take this medication for a long time.
Long term use of this medication may cause your brain and body to depend on it. This can happen even when used as directed by your care team. You and your care team will work together to determine how long you will need to take this medication. If your care team wants you to stop this medication, the dose will be slowly lowered over time to reduce the risk of side effects.
This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects.
Do not take other medications that contain acetaminophen with this medication. Many non-prescription medications contain acetaminophen. Always read labels carefully. If you have questions, ask your care team.
If you take too much acetaminophen, get medical help right away. Too much acetaminophen can be very dangerous and cause liver damage. Even if you do not have symptoms, it is important to get help right away.
What are the most serious risks of this medication?
This medication has acetaminophen in it. Taking too much acetaminophen can cause serious liver injury and death. It is important that you do not take more than 4,000 mg of acetaminophen in one day. Many medications for pain and fever contain acetaminophen. It is important to check package labels. Do not take more than one medication that has acetaminophen in it at the same time. Talk to your care team about all the medications you take, both prescription and over-the-counter. They can help you make sure you are not taking too much. Liver problems and alcohol use while taking acetaminophen can increase the risk of liver injury. Seek medical help right away if you think you have taken too much acetaminophen. It is important even if you do not have symptoms. Symptoms of liver injury include feeling weak or tired, pain in the right upper side of the belly, loss of appetite, nausea, and yellowing of the skin or eyes.