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How should you take this medication?
This medicine will relieve a headache best if you take it as soon as the headache begins. If you get warning signs of a migraine, take this medicine as soon as you are sure that the migraine is coming
. This may even stop the headache pain from occurring. Lying down in a quiet, dark room for a while after taking the medicine also helps to relieve headaches.
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Why is this drug prescribed?
Esgic contains Acetaminophen / butalbital / caffeine. Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer. Butalbital is in a class of drugs called barbiturates that slow down your central nervous syst
em (brain and nerve impulses) causing relaxation. Caffeine is believed to constrict dilated blood vessels that may contribute to tension headaches. Together, acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine ar
e used to relieve complex tension (muscle contraction) headaches although precisely how it works is unknown.
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Significant Interactions:
When you are taking a butalbital and acetaminophen combination, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:
- Anticoagulants (b
lood thinners), or
- Carbamazepine (e.g., Tegretol) or
- Contraceptives, oral (birth control pills) containing estrogen, or
- Corticosteroids (cortisone-like medicines) or
- Cortic
otropin (e.g., ACTH)¡XButalbital may make these medicines less effective
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Missed Dose
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Do not takedouble dose of Esgic . Wait the prescribed amount of time before taking your next dose.
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What side effects may occur?
Although side effects from acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- drowsiness
-
upset stomach
- vomiting
- stomach pain
- depression
- lightheadedness
- confusion
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- skin rash
- itching
- difficulty breathing
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What special precautions should I follow?
Pregnancy¡X
- For butalbital: Barbiturates such as butalbital have been shown to increase the chance of birth defects in humans. Also, one study in humans has suggested that barbiturates tak
n during pregnancy may increase the chance of brain tumors in the baby.Butalbital may cause breathing problems in the newborn baby if taken just before or during delivery.
- For acetaminophen: Al
though studies on birth defects with acetaminophen have not been done in pregnant women, it has not been reported to cause birth defects or other problems.
- For caffeine: Use of large amounts of
caffeine during pregnancy may cause problems with the heart rhythm and the growth of the fetus.
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