Butalbital/acetaminophen

Butalbital/acetaminophen (pronounced: byoo-TAL-bi-tal/a-seet-a-MIN-oh-fen) is a combination medication used to treat tension headaches. It is a combination of butalbital, a barbiturate, and acetaminophen, a non-opioid pain reliever and fever reducer.

Etymology

The term "butalbital" is derived from "butyl", referring to the butyl group in its chemical structure, and "barbital", a type of barbiturate. "Acetaminophen" is derived from its chemical name, N-acetyl-para-aminophenol.

Usage

Butalbital/acetaminophen is used to relieve symptoms of tension (or muscle contraction) headaches. It is not intended for use as a routine pain medication, and should only be used for treatment of acute headache symptoms.

Mechanism of Action

Butalbital works by decreasing the nerve impulses causing the pain, while acetaminophen works by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins, which play a role in the body's pain response.

Side Effects

Common side effects of butalbital/acetaminophen include drowsiness, lightheadedness, dizziness, and sedation. More serious side effects can include dependency and overdose, particularly when used in combination with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants.

Related Terms

• Barbiturate
• Acetaminophen
• Prostaglandins
• Tension headache

See Also

• List of barbiturates
• List of non-opioid analgesics

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Butalbital/acetaminophen
• Wikipedia's article - Butalbital/acetaminophen

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

---

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski