Fioricet withdrawal happens after someone stops taking the drug. The symptoms can be severe and may last for a couple of weeks. Detox should be supervised by a medical professional.
Fioricet is a medication commonly used to treat headaches and migraines. It contains three active ingredients: butalbital, acetaminophen and caffeine. Butalbital is in a class of drugs called barbiturates.
Barbiturates depress the central nervous system (CNS) causing sleepiness. When someone takes a barbiturate frequently, their body becomes dependent on the drug and tolerance develops. The dependence causes them to need more drug to get the desired effect.
Unfortunately, Fioricet can cause a rebound headache. A rebound headache is a headache that happens within a few days of the previous headache and is caused by the medication used to treat the first headache. This leads to the person taking more Fioricet to treat the rebound headache, which causes dependence and tolerance to happen quickly.
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What Causes Fioricet Withdrawal?
Fioricet withdrawal happens when someone stops taking the drug after their body becomes dependent on it. Tolerance develops quickly with Fioricet, even when taking it as prescribed by the doctor. When it is taken for a long time or in large doses, mental or physical dependence may occur. Physical dependence may lead to withdrawal side effects when someone is no longer taking the drug.
How Long Does Fioricet Stay in Your System?
Fioricet is a long-acting medication, so it stays in your body for a long time. Pain relief for headaches typically occurs within an hour or two of taking the drug. While the desired effects of the drug are noticed fairly quickly, the butalbital component can stay in the body for a couple of days. Because it takes so long for the drug to get out of your system, withdrawal symptoms may not start for several days after the drug is stopped. This can also pose a challenge for someone who may want to detox because it will take long for the drug to get out of their system and withdrawal symptoms may last a lot longer than expected.
Fioricet Withdrawal Symptoms
Fioricet withdrawal symptoms are similar to alcohol withdrawal. Most of the withdrawal symptoms affect the brain and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract or stomach. Fioricet contains three active ingredients, so withdrawal symptoms can originate from any of them.
Common Fioricet Withdrawal Symptoms
Not everyone experiences the same withdrawal symptoms, but some common Fioricet withdrawal symptoms are:
- Tremors
- Difficulty sleeping
- Agitation
- Hallucinations
- Delirium
- Fever
- Rebound headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fast heartbeat
- Seizures
Fioricet Withdrawal Timeline
Fioricet stays in the body for a long time. Withdrawal symptoms may start within 16 hours and last up to five days after stopping the drug. It can take up to two weeks for withdrawal symptoms to completely go away.
Factors Impacting Fioricet Withdrawal
There are many factors that affect Fioricet withdrawal. Genetics affect how the body uses the drug. Some people are more sensitive to the drug than others. Some people will experience more side effects and some may have more severe withdrawal symptoms. A person’s kidney and liver function may also impact Fioricet withdrawal. The amount of drug a person takes each day and how long they have been taking it can also impact the length and severity of withdrawal.
Fioricet Detox
The factors that impact Fioricet withdrawal can also have an impact on detox. The length of time it takes to detox is different for everyone. It can take up to two weeks to get all of the Fioricet out of the body. The most severe withdrawal symptoms typically occur within the first few days after the last dose. After about five days, the withdrawal symptoms start to go away, but mild symptoms can persist for a few weeks.
Finding a Detox Center
Finding a detox center that is right for you or your loved one doesn’t need to be an intimidating experience. A quality detox center should focus on you and your recovery and provide the tools and support you need to be successful. Signs of a quality treatment facility are:
- Accredited or certified by the state
- Offers medication to assist with recovery when indicated
- Follows evidence-based practices for treating addiction
- Allows families to participate in treatment
- Provides treatment and support beyond addiction
