Butalbital is a barbiturate. 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.
Codeine is an opioid pain medication. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic.
Aspirin, butalbital, caffeine, and codeine is a combination medicine used to treat tension headaches. This medicine is not for treating headaches that come and go.
This medication may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Aspirin may cause stomach or intestinal bleeding, which can be fatal.
You should not use this medication if you have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, low levels of platelets in blood, nasal polyps, a stomach or intestinal disorder, or porphyria (a genetic enzyme disorder that causes symptoms affecting the skin or nervous system).
Medicines that contain codeine should not be given to a child just after surgery to remove the tonsils or adenoids.
Get emergency medical help if a child taking this medication has breathing problems, blue lips, or severe drowsiness, or if you cannot wake the child up from sleep.
Aspirin may cause stomach or intestinal bleeding, which can be fatal. These conditions can occur without warning while you are taking this medicine.
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to aspirin, butalbital, caffeine, or codeine, or if you have:
- a bleeding or blood clotting disorder;
- low levels of platelets in blood;
- liver disease;
- a severe vitamin K deficiency;
- nasal polyps;
- a stomach or intestinal disorder;
- porphyria (a genetic enzyme disorder that causes symptoms affecting the skin or nervous system); or
- an allergy to an NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)--aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.
Medicines that contain codeine should not be given to a child just after surgery to remove the tonsils or adenoids.
To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
- asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, or other breathing disorders;
- kidney disease;
- heart disease;
- a history of head injury or brain tumor;
- a thyroid disorder;
- an enlarged prostate or urination problems;
- Addison's disease or other adrenal gland disorder; or
- a history of drug or alcohol addiction.
This medication can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. The use of codeine by some nursing mothers may lead to life-threatening side effects in the baby. Aspirin use while breast-feeding could cause bleeding in the infant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine.
Aspirin should not be given to a child or teenager who has a fever, especially if the child also has flu symptoms or chicken pox. Aspirin can cause a serious and sometimes fatal condition called Reye's syndrome in children.
Serious side effects may be more likely in older adults and those who are ill or debilitated.
Asa/Butalbital/Caffeine/Codeine Side Effects
Seek emergency medical attention if a child taking this medication has any of the following life-threatening side effects: noisy breathing, sighing, slow breathing with long pauses between breaths; being unusually sleepy or hard to wake up; blue colored lips.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- fast or pounding heart rate, muscle twitching;
- confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior;
- little or no urinating;
- symptoms of stomach bleeding--bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds; or
- nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
- nausea, stomach pain;
- drowsiness; or
- mild dizziness.
Asa/Butalbital/Caffeine/Codeine Interactions
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any cold, allergy, or pain medication. Many medicines available over the counter contain aspirin or similar medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much of this type of medication. Check the label to see if a medicine contains aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your risk of stomach bleeding.
Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous or life-threatening side effects. Ask your doctor before taking this medicine with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.
Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with aspirin, butalbital, caffeine, and codeine, especially:
- medication to prevent blood clots--dalteparin, desirudin, enoxaparin, fondaparinux, tinzaparin, warfarin, Coumadin; or
- an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug)--ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), ketorolac.
Asa/Butalbital/Caffeine/Codeine Dosage
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Codeine
can slow or stop your breathing. Never use aspirin, butalbital,
caffeine, and codeine in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed.
Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in
relieving your headaches.
Butalbital and codeine may be habit-forming, even at regular doses. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. MISUSE OF NARCOTIC MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Selling or giving away aspirin, butalbital, caffeine, and codeine is against the law.
Do not stop using this medicine suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using aspirin, butalbital, caffeine, and codeine.
If you need surgery or medical tests, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Butalbital and codeine are drugs of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of butalbital or codeine can be fatal.
Overdose symptoms may include severe drowsiness or insomnia, tremors, pinpoint pupils, vomiting, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), confusion, ringing in your ears, fainting, weak pulse, seizure (convulsions), blue lips, shallow breathing, or no breathing.
Since this medicine is used when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are on a schedule, use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Butalbital and codeine may be habit-forming, even at regular doses. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. MISUSE OF NARCOTIC MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Selling or giving away aspirin, butalbital, caffeine, and codeine is against the law.
Do not stop using this medicine suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using aspirin, butalbital, caffeine, and codeine.
If you need surgery or medical tests, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Butalbital and codeine are drugs of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of butalbital or codeine can be fatal.
Overdose symptoms may include severe drowsiness or insomnia, tremors, pinpoint pupils, vomiting, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), confusion, ringing in your ears, fainting, weak pulse, seizure (convulsions), blue lips, shallow breathing, or no breathing.
Since this medicine is used when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are on a schedule, use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Asa/Butalbital/Caffeine/Codeine Pictures
