Aspirin / butalbital / caffeine and Headaches: What Users Say

• ara...
• April 18, 2008

Aspirin / butalbital / caffeine for Pain "I have had migraines my whole life, and I am happy with the combination I am on now of Fiorinal and daily 100 mg Topamax. I can't handle more than 100 mg (50 mg twice a day) of the Topamax without unwanted side effects. 100 mg of Topamax is not enough to keep me headache-free. It only cuts down on the headaches and makes them not so intense-instead of 9s and 10s, I get 7s and 8s. Fiorinal knocks the headaches right out. If I catch it in time, I only need to take 1, but if it's a really bad one, I take 2 and lie down. It has worked great for my tension-cluster migraines."

• Jan...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 11, 2021

For Migraine "Have been taking Fiorinal and Fioricet w/codeine for many years to control chronic migraine and cluster headaches. I have found them to be very effective. I rotate the two meds to help prevent liver/kidney and stomach problems. Need to be very aware of rebound or medicine overuse headaches. Overall, they have been life-changing for me because other treatments such as Triptan were unsuccessful."

• Che...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 9, 2017

For Migraine "I have chronic tension headaches. I used to take the Fioricet with Tylenol, and honestly I wish I was on it again. I wanted to see how my body reacted to aspirin - IT HATES IT! My migraine worsens, hot and cold flashes, and I get intense nausea that makes me run for a trash can almost less than 5 minutes after being ingested. It does help sometimes, but the side effects weigh out the benefits. The Tylenol caffeine butalbital works wonders for tension migraines. I've tried most medicines and Fioricet is the only kind that helps. Too much causes rebound headaches so don't overdo it! And overdoses ARE POSSIBLE in large AMOUNTS. Butalbital is a barbiturate and is LETHAL. Read the warning labels!!!"

• Pai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 23, 2017

For Migraine "I started having migraines after the birth of my second child. At first, I was able to tolerate them, then I started treating them with Extra Strength Tylenol, then Excedrin PM. They progressively got worse. This was the fourth medication my primary doctor prescribed, and it really helped, but my neurologist said 70% of patients suffer rebound headaches from it. He said to use it occasionally (3-6 times/year). Now I'm on preventive medication (daily dosages), with this as a back-up when a severe migraine hits."

• DDa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 24, 2019

For Migraine "I have no family history of migraines. They started after my hysterectomy when I was 24. I am 71 now and just had one Friday and Saturday. They start with the auras that I cannot see, then it has to go from one eye to the other, then it starts with the nausea and headache. I have to go into a dark room, no noise, and a cold cloth covering my eyes. If I can get the medicine when it starts, it helps a lot. I usually have my head sore, not headache, for a few days after. No fun."

• DDa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 24, 2019

For Migraine "I have no family history of migraines. They started after my hysterectomy when I was 24. I am 71 now and just had one Friday and Saturday. They start with the auras that I cannot see, then it has to go from one eye to the other, then it starts with the nausea and headache. I have to go into a dark room, no noise, and a cold cloth covering my eyes. If I can get the medicine when it starts, it helps a lot. I usually have my head sore, not headache, for a few days after. No fun."