is butalbital a controlled substance?

[confused]

I had brain surgery in 1990 for a cerebral aneurysm. I've been being prescribed Fioricet since then, as I have bad reactions to aspirin, n-saids, SSRI'S, the newer anti-depressants, most recently Depakote, and the codeine family. Fioricet is the only thing that keeps me from getting what I call my "Killer headaches from hell!" My doc said he won't give me anymore Fioricet because it's very addicting and you're supposed to take only 2 per day. I searched PlanetRx and it says Fioricet is not a controlled substance and that the maximum dosage recommendation is 6 tablets per day. Yet, because of anxiety and depression, he has been dishing out first Xanax, (but it made my headaches worse) then Valium like they were candy! I checked with PlanetRx and both benzodiazepines are controlled substances and highly addictive. I realize that the Butalbital in Fioricet is also addictive--if this is true, then why isn't it a controlled substance? Also, after taking 4-6 tablets per day for the past 10 years, why can I go for days without it and not have severe withdrawal reactions? I'd appreciate any information you can give me, as I can't seem to find out much on the web. Thank you.

[my_mayberry]

butalbital addiction is horrible...i don't know how it compares to other drugs, but i do know that the high never lasts long enough with that drug so it's VERY easy to just keep taking more and more and more and more....

it's not as sedating as pentobarbital or secobarbital (nembutal and seconal) but it's just as addicting. a 7 day detox would never work with this drug if the person is taking a high dose...generally an addict will take 10-20 per day or sometimes more. at these doses, it's actually very dangerous to attempt a detox in only 7 days. i was forced to go cold turkey from 10 a day and it was HELL, believe me...pain like you would not believe and vomiting...luckily  thats all that happened.

obviously the person will have to want to stop before any treatment can be effective at all.

and yes, it's probably better that you start your own post. you'll get more input that way.

[bmdad]

I can't help you with your question but wanted to know you should start your own post. This is a pretty old post and they tend to get overlooked. At the top of the page you will see in a green box "post a question". Click on that and then type your questions. Doing this will also start a thread that is pretty much dedicated to you. I do know there are a few members that recently got off of fiorecet so they should be able to give you some advice.
I can say that if your best friends mom is not ready to get clean there is probably not much that can be done. Most addicts will only quit when they are good and ready. There are certain ways to go about talking to her about her problem but you have to be very careful. You just have to approach it tactfully. Does she admit to having a problem or does she say she has her use under control?

[coranicksmom]

My best friends mother was prescribed butalbital caffeine for headaches and has become extremely addicted to them. Her doctor no lnoger prescribes them to her and she instead gets them online without a prescription. She has gone into a 7 day treatment once already and says she will never go again. Since then her addiction has gotten worse and worse. We are all extremely worried about her and do not know what do. I guess im just looking for any kind of information that could be useful. Also ive tried researching on the web, but when you type in butalbital addiction it sends you to pages where you can order online. Thats just not right!

[flob]

also...i forgot....the reason it's actually there is as a vasocontrictor. but to a drug abuser, this is not relevent at all.

[flob]

i disagree that the caffeine is to deter abuse. as it is, phrenilin and phrenilin forte are rarely ever abused vs. fioricet. caffeine, as everyone knows, is addicting...but coming from someone with lots and lots of experience abusing this medication....the caffeine is there to keep you from getting knocked out, thus improving your 'high'....you get high, drunk, relaxed, and experience euphoria, all without the inconvenience of being knocked out during it. that's the true purpose of the caffeine.

if you look back into the 50's, 60's, and 70's, barbs were mixed with amphetamines. the only purpose this served was to be an extremely powerful drug of abuse.

anyway, i only mention this as someone who's abused barbs. the high does you know good if you're knocked out for it....hence the reason most people never abuse them till they've built a tolerance up and can actually stay awake after taking a large dose. with fioricet, you've already got that part down because the caffeine keeps you up. and why on earth isn't butalbital controlled and not just fiorinal? it's a question i've been asking for years. it doesn't make sense. perhaps because there is no plain butalbital. perhaps for the reason codeine is a c-II and yet tylenol #3 is only a c-III. or perhaps it keeps sales up.

[Chemgineer]

For some reason, butalbital products are controlled when mixed with asprin but not with acetaminophen.

Even the one preparation that is only butabital and acetaminophen without any caffeine (Phrenelin forte) is not controlled. It should be.

Now the caffeine helps deter abuse, but it is still addictive. And that's not why the caffeine is there .

It's a weird loophole I've never understood .

Like I said, fioriNAL, and all other asprin combos ARE C-III, which is above Valium and such.

FioriCET, and all acetaminophen combos are uncontrolled.

Weird loophole.
Allows them to be bought online very easily. More easily than valium.