Drug Profiles:
Fiorinal®

CAUTION: Federal law prohibits dispensing without prescription.

Fiorinal® is for mild to moderate Migraine pain management. Migraineurs find Fiorinal® is a useful therapy when taken before laying down in a dark room. Because it is compounded with a barbiturate (used for its sedative effects).

Classification-

• Analgesics
  
• Salicylates
  
• Psychotropic Agents
  
• Anxiolytics, Sedatives, and Hypnotics
  
• Barbiturates
  
• Psychostimulants

Classifications-

• controlled substance
• pregnancy category C
• VA classification CN101

Indications-

• headache and Migraine
• mild pain
• moderate pain

Background-

Description: Aspirin, butalbital, and caffeine, are used together in an oral preparation to treat pain, specifically headaches. Aspirin is a non-narcotic analgesic for pain and headache relief. Butalbital is a barbiturate used for its sedative effects. Caffeine is found in many analgesic formulations and may be beneficial in Migraine and vascular headaches. The combination of aspirin and codeine produces a greater analgesic effect than that produced by aspirin alone or by higher doses of opiate. Also, this combination might cause fewer adverse reactions than do equianalgesic doses of either agent alone.

Available as:

Fiorinal® tablets

• aspirin 325 mg
  
• butalbital 50 mg
  
• caffeine 40 mg

Dosage:

• Adults:1-2 capsules or tablets PO every 4 hours. Maximum of 6 capsules or tablets per day.
• Children: Dosage not established.