Fioricet Overdose Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

Fioricet Signs and Symptoms

Toxicity from barbiturate poisoning include drowsiness, confusion, and coma; respiratory depression; hypotension; and hypovolemic shock.

In acetaminophen overdosage: dose-dependent, potentially fatal hepatic necrosis is the most serious adverse effect. Renal tubular necroses, hypoglycemic coma, and thrombocytopenia may also occur. Early symptoms following a potentially hepatotoxic overdose may include: nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis, and general malaise. Clinical and laboratory evidence of hepatic toxicity may not be apparent until 48 to 72 hours post-ingestion. In adults hepatic toxicity has rarely been reported with acute overdoses of less than 10 grams, or fatalities with less than 15 grams.

Acute caffeine poisoning may cause insomnia, restlessness, tremor, and delirium, tachycardia and extrasystoles.

Fioricet overdose Treatment

A single or multiple overdose with this combination product is a potentially lethal polydrug overdose, and consultation with a regional poison control center is recommended.

Immediate treatment includes support of cardiorespiratory function and measures to reduce drug absorption. Vomiting should be induced mechanically, or with syrup of ipecac, if the patient is alert (adequate pharyngeal and laryngeal reflexes). Oral activated charcoal (1 g/kg) should follow gastric emptying. The first dose should be accompanied by an appropriate cathartic. If repeated doses are used, the cathartic might be included with alternate doses as required. Hypotension is usually hypovolemic and should respond to fluids. Pressors should be avoided. A cuffed endotracheal tube should be inserted before gastric lavage of the unconscious patient and when necessary, to provide assisted respiration. If renal function is normal, forced diuresis may aid in the elimination of the barbiturate. Alkalinization of the urine increases renal excretion of some barbiturates, especially phenobarbital.

Meticulous attention should be given to maintaining adequate pulmonary ventilation. In severe cases of intoxication, peritoneal dialysis, or preferably hemodialysis may be considered. If hypoprothrombinemia occurs due to acetaminophen overdose, vitamin K should be administered intravenously.

If the dose of acetaminophen may have exceeded 140 mg/kg, acetylcysteine should be administered as early as possible. Serum acetaminophen levels should be obtained, since levels four or more hours following ingestion help predict acetaminophen toxicity. Do not await acetaminophen assay results before initiating treatment. Hepatic enzymes should be obtained initially, and repeated at 24-hour intervals.

Methemoglobinemia over 30% should be treated with methylene blue by slow intravenous administration.

Toxic Doses (for adults)

 

Butalbital: toxic dose 1 g (20 tablets)
Acetaminophen: toxic dose 10 g (30 tablets)
Caffeine: toxic dose 1 g (25 tablets)

In all cases of suspected overdosage, call your Regional Poison Control Center to obtain the most up-to-date information about the treatment of overdosage. Telephone numbers of certified Regional Poison Control Centers are listed in the Physicians’ Desk Reference®*.

How to prevent Headache

Headache Types
Headache Types

A lot of patients order fioricet or buy fioricet in order to stop their tension headache or general headaches.

Headache Types
Headache Types

normally 53% headaches are tension headaches and 39% are migraines. Other kinds of headaches only occupy eight percent. The best way to relieve your headaches are preventing your headache before it begins. You have to know your headache triggers. Normally it is because of stress. But there are a lot of headache triggers there including weather,strong smell, Hair Accessories, sex and Exercise, Poor Posture, Cheese, Red Wine, food, Cold Cuts, Skipping Meals, Smoking, Caffeine,

If you can identify your most common triggers, you may be able to cut off headaches before they start. The best way to accomplish this is through a headache diary. Keep a daily log of foods you eat, stressful events, weather changes, and physical activity. Whenever you have a headache, record the time it starts and stops.

A headache diary includes:

    Day and time the pain began;
    What you ate and drank over the past 24 hours;
    How much you slept;
    stressful events;
    weather changes;
    1. and physical activity;
    How long the headache lasted and what made it stop

Review your diary with your doctor to identify triggers or a pattern to your headaches. This can help you and your doctor create a treatment plan. Knowing your triggers can help you avoid them.

Emotional stress is one of the most common triggers of migraines and tension headaches ( stress headaches). Migraine sufferers are generally found to be more emotional and highly affected by stressful events. During stressful events certain chemicals in the brain are released to combat the situation (known as the ‘fight or flight’ response). The release of these chemicals can provoke blood vessel changes that can cause migraine headaches.

Stress is also an important factor in tension headaches. Tension headaches can either be episodic or chronic. Episodic tension headache is usually triggered by an isolated stressful situation or a build-up of stress; it can usually be treated by over-the-counter painkillers. Daily stress such as from a high-pressure job can lead to chronic tension headaches. Treatment for chronic tension headaches usually involves stress management, counselling, and possibly the use of antidepressant or anxiety reducing medication.

Manage Headache

Stress management involves learning to be able to control stress and relax. Everyone has periods of stress. Stress has benefits in that it can result in us pushing ourselves and getting things done. This can precipitate a headache. Simply taking some deep breaths and maybe tensing then relaxing your muscles can relieve occasional mild stress. Regular stress may require learning to say “no”, not taking too much on. Becoming fit, eating regularly, and proper sleep can help combat stress. Learn better organizing skills, not setting standards that are too high and deal with problems as they arise, can all help. As can, adopting stress management techniques such as meditation, biofeedback, relaxation therapy and yoga.

Lifestyle changes that may help to prevent your headache, include:

  1. Use a different pillow or change sleeping positions.
  2. Practice good posture when reading, working, or doing other activities.
  3. Exercise and stretch your back, neck, and shoulders often when typing, working on computers, or doing other close work.
  4. Get more vigorous exercise. This is exercise that gets your heart beating fast. (Check with your health care provider about what kind of exercise is best for you.)
  5. Have your eyes checked. If you have glasses, use them.
  6. Learn and practice stress management. Some people find relaxation exercises or meditation helpful.
  7. Eat Regularly, Eating balanced meals throughout the day will help keep your blood sugar on an even keel
  8. Physical Therapy, Physical therapy combines exercise and education to reduce pain and improve range of motion

The last thing that prevent headache is to take medications. Over-the counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen are effective against many types of headaches. But avoid taking these drugs continuously, as this can result in medication overuse headaches or rebound headaches — headache pain that returns as soon as the pills have worn off. For frequent or severe headaches, talk to your doctor about prescription medications that help prevent them. 

Your doctor may recommend that you take a prescription medicine every day to prevent headaches. You may want to take this medicine if:

  • Over-the-counter medicines don’t work to stop your headaches.
  • You’re taking drugs to stop headaches more than 3 times a week.
  • You get a headache more than 15 days a month.

Medicines used to prevent tension headaches include:

  • Antidepressants, such as amitriptyline.
  • Seizure medicines, such as topiramate.
  • Medicines that relax muscles, such as tizanidine.
  • Antianxiety medicines, such as buspirone.

 

What is the max dosage of Butabital and why Fiorinal is a controlled substance ?

Butalbital (5-allyl-5-isobutylbarbituric acid), is a short to intermediate-acting barbiturate. It has the following structural formula:

butalbital
 

C11H16N2O3          Mol. wt. 224.26
Barbiturates may be habit-forming: Tolerance, psychological dependence, and physical dependence may occur especially following prolonged use of high doses of barbiturates.

The average daily dose for the barbiturate addict is usually about 1500 mg. That is 1500mg Butalbital will make you addictive to butalbital.

One tablet fioricet contains 325 mg acetaminophen. FDA attempt to cut down on incidences of potentially fatal liver damage associated with acetaminophen.  The max dosage of acetaminophen is 3000mg per day. But we recommend the max dosage of acetaminophen is 2000mg.  Especially for a patient who drink alcohol.

  • Alcohol consumption substantially increases the risk of acute liver failure from acetaminophen overdose.
  • Liver damage may occur with consumption of only 2,600 mg of acetaminophen in the course of a day in people who have consumed varying amounts of alcohol.

acetaminophen

Acetaminophen effectively lowers fever and relieves minor aches and pains without stomach discomfort and heart issues associated with ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

It is strongly recommended that people who consume alcohol on a regular basis limit acetaminophen intake to a maximum of 1,000 to 2,000 mg per day. The preference is to stay at the lower end of that range.

If you do not want to hurt yourself, the max dosage of fioricet is six pills per day. We donot suggest a drunk man to take fioricet.

One tablet fioricet contains 50mg butalbital. The average daily dose for the barbiturate addict is usually about 1500 mg (30 Fioricet tablets).  That is five times of acetaminophen max dosage. At this dosage,  you will kill yourself by acetaminophen.

It is very hard to separate butalbital from fioricet or generic fioricet, so fioricet is not controlled substance.

Fiorinal contains a combination of aspirin, butalbital, and caffeine. Aspirin is a pain reliever, as well as an anti-inflammatory and a fever reducer. 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.

Fiorinal is used to treat tension headaches. This medicine is not for treating headaches that come and go.

It is easy to separate butalbital from Fiorinal, That is why Fiorinal is a controlled substance.

 

 

 

How to treat Fioricet overdose

The treatment of Fioricet overdose is complicated by the presence of two substances which are highly toxic when taken in excessive amounts. Fioricet overdoses generally result in toxic amounts of both acetaminophen and butalbital being consumed at once, requiring both overdoses to be treated at once.

Fioricet overdose by anyone and/or any consumption by persons to whom it is not prescribed (particularly children) is always a medical emergency and medical attention must be sought immediately if an overdose or consumption by other persons is suspected.fioricet

Fioricet overdose is often fatal and symptoms may not present for hours following consumption, once initial overdose symptoms present they can progress rapidly and there may not be time to reach appropriate medical care after this point.

Acetaminophen over-exerts its toxicity through the production of a toxic metabolite which produces liver damage in doses of 3,000mg or more per day and acute liver failure in doses above that. The specific antidote to acetaminophen overdose is N-acetyl-cysteine. Kidney failure and stomach bleeding may also occur.

Butalbital overdoses exerts its toxicity through excessive sedation resulting in respiratory depression and ultimately death via hypoxia. Nonlethal overdoses may also result in coma and death. There is no specific antidote to butalbital overdose and treatment is supportive, common treatment regimens generally include the administration of intravenous administration of saline, naloxone, thiamine, glucose, NaHCO3 to alkalize the urine to increase rate of excretion, and activated charcoal via nasogastric tube. It is not uncommon for doctor to recommend observation of the patient in the Emergency Department for a number of hours or admission to the hospital for several days of observation if symptoms are severe and to counsel the patient on drug abuse and/or refer them for psychiatric evaluation.