I've used Esgic Plus tablets for over 12 years for daily headaches, which often turned into vicious migraines. My family doctor gave me samples to try when Esgic Plus tablets first came out. Taking only one, with my usual 'four times a day aspirin doses' didn't get rid of the headache. It did dull the headache. Taken without the aspirin, the Esgic Plus actually set off the headache to a migraine. My doctor suggested always taking the aspirin an hour or so before taking the Esgic Plus, but sometimes I didn't have time to wait for the aspirin before I needed the Esgic Plus. Before finding the Esgic Plus, I'd gone thru all the Ergos, Fiorinal, and most everything to try and help these daily headaches. Nothing worked. But the Esgic Plus did dull the headache, and sometimes headed off the 'migraine' before it got too bad. My wonderful doctor suggested to me that I try Alkaselzer, or a BC Powder if I needed both the Esgic Plus and the aspirin quickly. That was genius. I love you Dr. Sykes. (I wish I'd bought stock in Alkaselzer since I use it daily several times a day.) Back then, I only took the Esgic when I got the three to four really bad headaches each month. My menstrual cycles made the headaches worse and more frequent as I got older. I'm 53 now. I'm sure they weren't rebound headaches from the Butalbital since I only took the Esgic Plus when I needed them. In my early 40's and with menopause lurking, my headaches became daily occurences for me. The occassional migraines became lurking monsters for me every single day. Anything that would or could be a trigger made the headaches worse. I'd done, and stopped everything possible, to keep the headaches at bay. The triggers were the usual foods and drinks that are known. Sleeplessness, or too much sleep. Getting upset or especially getting angry. BIG NO NO'S. DON'T LOSE YOUR TEMPER! Even barometric pressure could affect my headaches. (Oh no, another hurricane is coming, or more rain) It's a long list of 'what NOT to do.' Not enough of, 'do this, or do that.' I needed the Esgic Plus more frequently and was sent to a Neurologist at age 40 for the usual MRI. All was clear on the MRI. The Neurologist wanted to get me off the Esgic Plus, and suggested Ultram for me. He tapered me off the Butalbital slowly. I used only the Ultram daily. That did help some, but like the Esgic without aspirin, it didn't do much. I was told to stop the aspirin and only use the Ultram. I suffered, but still no more suggestions, except Imitrex. Also, by the way, if you"ll use a suppository, I used Tigan, that helps with the nausea. It also helps the headache from going into a full blown migraine. SOMETIMES. But it does help with the nausea. So the Neurologist gave me Tigan, also. That's four meds. He wanted me to use Imitrex every time I got a really bad headache that was turning vicious. Imitrex will actually trigger the migraine you're trying to avoid. Your stomach flips, and you're down for the count. I always wanted to wait before taking that medication and hate using it. Yes, it gets rid of the migraine within a few hours, hopefully, but you're still out of the game when you take Imitrex. My whole point here, is that I found a doctor that would give me the Esgic Plus, and the Ultram, and of course, the Tigan Suppositories. Those suppositories are a must for migraine sufferers. And I will tell you...I will stick anything anywhere to avoid a migraine. So there. lol Anyway, the last 10 years I've taken one and a half Esgic Plus tablets, that's why you have to ask for tablets, so you can break them in half. In half a glass of water, I take three Alkaselzer tablets, that's one packet, and half a packet. (Alkaselzer Lemon Lime flavored) and one Ultram. Heaven. I found heaven. No more daily headaches as long as I could take my Esgic in the morning, first thing. Then again by that afternoon, or lunch. I get up around 6:00. Again by the evening, and before bedtime. That's a total of 6 Esgic Plus tablets a day. And 4 Ultram. So, about every 6 to 7 hours, around the clock, being sure to overlap the Esgic Plus and the Ultram with Alkaselzer. It sounds like a lot, and yes, if you stop it, or can't take it, you'll get the dreaded rebound headaches. I am addicted to the Esgic, or the Butalbital. But considering the options of taking that, or having migraines constantly, well, that's my only option. I do worry about the rebound headaches, and the fact that if I run out of the Esgic, I'm done for. So, my position on Butalbital, is this. PREVENTATIVE! If it works, when nothing else has worked, then it can't be any worse than being an addict with food, drink, or sex. At least I can have a life without wanting to blow my brains out everytime I have a migraine. And when I have them, that's exactly what I'm thinking. If I can think. Just take me out! Dark rooms, no sound, no light. Sitting upright. Don't touch your head to anything, which means, no lying down. Keeping your head level so that the pounding is distrubuted outward and evenly, which sounds crazy. As long as I have those three things, along with the suppositories when I know the migraine is coming, I'm usually OK. Now, the only times I really get the headaches are when I'm angry, upset, or crying. Then I know I have to calm down and get a grip. But without Butalbital I'd probably be a goner. I couldn't have put up with these headaches all these years. So, I know it's not a good drug for all things, or everyone. And if someone came out with something better, I would try it. But, I've only had a few really bad migraines in the past 6 years from not being able to control my emotions. If anyone has any suggestions, or gets any help from this, I would love to hear it. It's difficult to get a doctor to prescribe enough of the Esgic, and the Tramadol, (generic Ultram) so that it can be taken daily as a preventative. I've been reading on here, that most of the Butalbital is being controlled because of the acetaminophen, and the aspirin. Last month, I was given Fiorcet, and I take two of those, with my Alkaselzer, and my Tramadol. The Fiorcet, which is Butalbital, isn't the same as taking the Esgic Plus. Maybe it's just in my head, but doctors are reticent to give Esgic Plus these days. That's what I was looking for on this site in the first place. WHY CAN'T I GET THE ESGIC PLUS TABLETS ANYMORE??? My doctor even told me they were taking Esgic Plus off the market. That's why I started taking the Fiorcet. It's not the same. So now, I keep a dull headache, and wait for it to grow into a monster, depending on how my day goes. It was a great 7 years not having these daily headaches. But now, the doctors are afraid of prescribing Esgic Plus. It's not right. And yes, I read a lot of the other threads about people addicted to Butalbital. And I can relate to all of them. I'm always afraid I'll run out. Maybe the woman who always got angry when she took them was because she knew she had to have them, or be miserable with her headaches. If you take Butalbital, you don't get high. You don't feel anything different than when taking aspirin, or a vitamin. At least, I don't. I just don't have a headache. For those who have a bad reaction to Butalbital, I'm so sorry. I just know that it helped me all these years. And a quick suggestion to anyone who knows someone with Sciatica. The nerve in your leg that goes from your buttock to your foot with so much pain you can't walk. There's a new drug called Lyrica. If it wasn't for that, I'd still be in bed on a heating pad, and crawling to the bathroom. My husband's mother went down a month ago with Sciatica, and I was pushing for the Lyrica. They gave it to her, and did an Epidural, and after 6 weeks, she's getting around, and using a walker when she needs one. If you have Sciatica, you have to try Lyrica. It works. So does Esgic Plus for migraines. Good luck to all. Hope I helped someone. Rosie