Headache meds - Pain Management Message Board

avogadro · 09-27-2003, 12:57 PM

Hello all,

I have a question for you guys. I have been having headaches for quite a few years. Had never had one in my life, didn't even know whay they felt like, until I had my son. They seemed to start while I was pregnant and have continued now for 8 years. Hormones maybe? I also had straight hair before I was pregnant and now it is really curly!

Anyway, recently, it has not been a big deal. The pain is so minor compared to the back pain that I do not worry about it and I figure that pain meds are pain meds and if they work for my back, they will work for my head too.

I mentioned them to my PM doctor and he call in a Rx for headache med. I only have the generic so I do not know the brand name. But, on the bottle, it says "Butalbital/APAP/Caffine".

I have a few questions:

#1 What is this med? Anyone familiar with it?

#2 Does it make sense to ANYONE to give me something ELSE with APAP in it?

Thanks,
AV

------------------
2000 - Gastric Bypass Surgery (weighed over 400 pounds).

2002 - down to 180 pounds.

June 2002 - serious car accident - on Vicodin and Rx for Flexeril but do not take due to drowsiness.

June-Dec 2002 - Tried physical therapy and meds with no improvement. Tried Soma for muscle relaxor, same effect, will not take due to drowsiness.

Jan 2003 - pain has gradually gotten worse over time.

Jan 2003 - first appt with PM doctor who FINALLY orders MRI - still on Vicodin only.

Feb 2003 - bulging, torn disks at L4-L5 and L5-S1.

March 2003 - PT again with no help. Vicodin only.

April 2003 - first ESI injections, helped with pain down left leg but not in lower back area

May 2003 - arthritis in L4-L5, L5-S1 joints, more injections. Still on Vicodin.

Aug 2003 - Still on Vicodin. Try MS Contin but does not work due to Gastric Bypass Surgery. Switch to Methadose. Adjusted dose of Methadose but did not like side effects. Switched to Duragesic patch (25) every 72 hours. First patch on 9/22/03.

Vicodin for B/T pain but doctor does not want to keep giving Rx for Vicodin. Hoping patch will eventually kick in and work all alone!

Sept 2003- have appt for "nerve block" to help with arthritic symptoms.

Sept 2003 - changed insurance companies. Current PM doctor not on new plan. Have apllied for "transition of care" so I can continue with same doctor. Waiting to hear from Cigna. Nerve block on hold until receive answer from Cigna.

blankaflower · 09-27-2003, 02:53 PM

hi yes i know this med.its a barbituate.its used for headaches,but it can cause rebound headaches.the brand name is fiorinal.they also make it with codien in it but the one you described is without codiene.this med never helped me,but then my headahces are very terrible.it does help alot of people though .it can make you sleepy so be careful.and i hope this has helped you ..ps its butalbital(wich is the barbituate,apap is the tylenal in it,and it has caffiene..i wish you the best and keep posting to let us know if it has helped you...blanka

Msbugg · 09-27-2003, 04:11 PM

Hi,
I posted here earlier today at "Iam really getting tired of chronic pain" and migraines. I had hormonal migraines for 30 years plus. No one called them that until about 5 years ago, i always said they were hormonal headaches but was told 'no'...
Any chance you could have those too...if you have some time, read my lengthier reply there....

avogadro · 09-27-2003, 07:32 PM

I had not idea that it was a barbituate. That gives me pause for concern. My 7 year old is SEVERLY allergic to a medication called Nembutal (it is a barbituate). It was given to him to help him relax and sleep through an MRI. I will not go into all the details. But, they never did the MRI and I spent 6 hours watching him convulse, scream, skake, try to hurt himself and just holding him down until the medication wore off. It was BY FAR the most horrifying experience that I have EVER had as a mother.

So, do you think I could be allergic as well? I do not what other meds fall into this class or if I have ever taken them before. Lord knows that I have taken enough meds... if I had an allergy to anything, I would think that I would know by now!

Any thoughts?

AV

[This message has been edited by avogadro (edited 09-27-2003).]

HockeyCrystal · 09-28-2003, 02:39 AM

It's actually fioricet... At least that's what my generic said when I was on the Fioricet. It might be the same as what the other poster stated. I used to be on it for quite some time, and it gave me horrible rebound headaches about 80% of the time. It also didn't help my headaches either, because I too have very very severe headaches... Anyway, I wouldn't be too worried about it being a barbituate, because I don't think it's the same drug that your son was allergic to, but if you're concerned about it, contact your pharmacist and ask them about it...Just because your son is allergic doesn't mean you are, but you could be, hard to say, but it's not a definite yes automatically...And just because they're the same kind of med, doesn't mean it's the same med....