acetaminophen and butalbital

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Pronunciation: a SEET a MIN oh fen and bue TAL bi tal

Brand: Allzital, Bupap, Marten-Tab

Phrenilin-VAL

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What is the most important information I should know about acetaminophen and butalbital?

Do not take more of this medication than is recommended. An overdose of acetaminophen can damage your liver or cause death.

In rare cases, acetaminophen may cause a severe skin reaction. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling.

Never share this medication with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction.

What is acetaminophen and butalbital?

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.

Acetaminophen and butalbital is a combination medicine used to treat tension headaches. This medicine is not for treating headaches that come and go.

Acetaminophen and butalbital may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking acetaminophen and butalbital?

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to acetaminophen (Tylenol) or butalbital, or if you have porphyria.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis) or if you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day. You may not be able to take medicine that contains acetaminophen.

To make sure acetaminophen and butalbital is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

  • liver disease;
  • kidney disease;
  • a stomach or intestinal disorder; or
  • a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine.

It is not known whether acetaminophen and butalbital will harm an unborn baby. However, this medicine can cause seizures in a newborn if the mother takes the medicine late in pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Acetaminophen and butalbital can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

Acetaminophen and butalbital is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

How should I take acetaminophen and butalbital?

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take more than your recommended dose. An acetaminophen overdose can damage your liver or cause death. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.

Butalbital may be habit-forming. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.

This medication can cause unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using acetaminophen and butalbital.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Do not stop using acetaminophen and butalbital suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using this medicine.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Butalbital is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since this medicine is used for pain, you are not likely to miss a dose. Skip any missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of acetaminophen and butalbital can be fatal.

The first signs of an acetaminophen overdose include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, sweating, and confusion or weakness. Later symptoms may include pain in your upper stomach, dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.

Overdose symptoms may also include extreme drowsiness, confusion, fainting, shallow breathing, or no breathing.

What should I avoid while taking acetaminophen and butalbital?

This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medication. Acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as APAP) is contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much acetaminophen which can lead to a fatal overdose. Check the label to see if a medicine contains acetaminophen or APAP.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your risk of liver damage while taking acetaminophen.

What are the possible side effects of acetaminophen and butalbital?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

In rare cases, acetaminophen may cause a severe skin reaction that can be fatal. This could occur even if you have taken acetaminophen in the past and had no reaction. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling. If you have this type of reaction, you should never again take any medicine that contains acetaminophen.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • fast or pounding heart rate, feeling short of breath;
  • feeling like you might pass out;
  • confusion, depression;
  • feeling restless, excited, or agitated;
  • seizure (convulsions); or
  • liver problems --nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects include:

  • headache, dizziness, drowsiness, shaky feeling;
  • drunk feeling;
  • vomiting, constipation;
  • heartburn, trouble swallowing;
  • numbness or tingly feeling;
  • dry mouth;
  • sweating or urinating more than usual;
  • leg pain, tired muscles;
  • stuffy nose, ear pain, ringing in your ears; or
  • mild itching.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect acetaminophen and butalbital?

Taking acetaminophen and butalbital with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before taking a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, prescription cough medicine, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.

Other drugs may interact with acetaminophen and butalbital, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about acetaminophen and butalbital.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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