Fioricet contains a combination of acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer.
Butalbital is in a group of drugs called barbiturates. It relaxes muscle contractions involved in a tension headache. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. It relaxes muscle contractions in blood vessels to improve blood flow.
Fioricet is used to treat tension headaches that are caused by muscle contractions.
When taking butalbital, you may experience withdrawal symptoms 8 to 36 hours after the last dose. Withdrawal symptoms may include anxiety, muscle twitching, tremor, weakness, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, weight loss, and even seizures when the medication is discontinued.
Due to the risk of seizures with a withdrawal from butalbital, medical treatment in a monitored setting under the care of a physician is indicated.
The Symptoms of Withdrawal
In most cases, Fioricet withdrawal lasts anywhere from 8 hours to three days after the last dose. Withdrawal is the biggest obstacle to overcoming dependence on Fioricet, which is why rehab centers provide detox programs so that people can safely undergo the withdrawal cycle without the risk of relapse. It is best to undergo withdrawal under medical supervision because some withdrawal symptoms are dangerous.
Rebound headaches are the most common symptoms of Fioricet withdrawal. Other symptoms of withdrawal include:
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- Anxiety
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
- Muscle spasms
- Nausea and vomiting
- Rapid emotional changes
- Seizures (in rare cases)
- Tremors
- Weakness
Symptoms of butalbital withdrawal
Symptoms of butalbital withdrawal are similar to alcohol withdrawal. Many of the withdrawal symptoms are a result of the effects butalbital has on the brain. The most common symptoms of butalbital withdrawal include:
- Tremors or shakiness
- Difficulty sleeping
- Agitation
- Hallucinations
- Delirium
- Rebound headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Seizures
How Long Does Fioricet Stay in Your System?
Fioricet is a long-acting medication, so it stays in your body for a long time. Pain relief for headaches typically occurs within an hour or two of taking the drug. While the desired effects of the drug are noticed fairly quickly, the butalbital component can stay in the body for a couple of days. Because it takes so long for the drug to get out of your system, withdrawal symptoms may not start for several days after the drug is stopped. This can also pose a challenge for someone who may want to detox because it will take long for the drug to get out of their system and withdrawal symptoms may last a lot longer than expected.
Fioricet Detox
The factors that impact Fioricet withdrawal can also have an impact on detox. The length of time it takes to detox is different for everyone. It can take up to two weeks to get all of the Fioricet out of the body. The most severe withdrawal symptoms typically occur within the first few days after the last dose. After about five days, the withdrawal symptoms start to go away, but mild symptoms can persist for a few weeks.