medicine

is butalbital a narcotic? i was put on them cuz i have tmj

[vicki595]

Hi Misty:  

No, butalbital is a barbiturate. It's most frequently used for tension headache relief. It IS addicting so just watch yourself. It does a good job on head pain but don't go over the limit ordered by the doctor.

[Innerstrength67]

Have you googles it? Not sure what that is but I'm sure you can get a lot of info on the net. I can't believe the dr didn't tell you.

[Innerstrength67]

Meant to say googled. Darn spell check.

[misty3232]

well they diagnosed me with tmj and i didnt know what all he prescribed me. it says its a barbiate. and ive heard thats a narcotic

[misty3232]

yea but they say thats a narcotic

[vicki595]

It is NOT a narcotic. It is a babiturate which is much different, reacts with your brain differently, and feels differently than a narcotic.  It is not an opiate. It's still addicting.

Can you call the doctor who prescribed this so you know what you're taking? There should have been an insert from the pharmacy as well.

[vicki595]

Who is telling you this?

[my_mayberry]

Vicki...the term narcotic was originally intended for 'downers'...primarily barbiturates. Seconal and nembutal along with many other barbs are the original narcotic...and the term came to include opiates. Now, its used less to refer to barbiturates because they simply arent prescribed anymore. So...it does fit the original definition of 'narcotic'...however it is currently only a controlled substance in certain formulations.

The easiest way to think of butalbital is that similar drugs are C-II substances (some even became C-I)....and in their hayday during the 50's thru 70's, they were often considered more addicting than opiates.

I dont know how well that answers your question...but basically, its dangerous just like opiates.

[my_mayberry]

Interestingly enough, i came across a poster from the 70's of most addicting substances...and top of the list was barbiturates. It was an anti-drug poster. I only find that interesting because they prescribe this drug so freely.

[vicki595]

Well...then...THEY ARE WRONG!!!  

So, a "thousand years ago" when this stuff was called "narcotic", what did they call opiates?  Narcotic accessories????

I suppose it really could be anything that "narcotizes" a brain, huh?

It's still stupid.  LOL!!

[my_mayberry]

Well it originally referred to anything that would put you to sleep. Opiates can do that too. I know that today, they call lunesta "non-narcotic" and that seconal is considered a narcotic but certain old pharmacists. I think today it is used mainly to refer to C-II's.

[my_mayberry]

I could be making all this up. Haha. Its what i THINK i read at some point. I know a 70 year old pharmacist who calls barbs narcotics and young pharmacists dont.

[vicki595]

LMAO!!    It's okay if you're making it all up!   I love you anyway!!

Actually,I knew this from a while back...I THINK...but it's just that barbituates NEVER put ME to sleep...just the opposite...And therein lies  problem...xo