Migraine and Headache
An estimated 40 million Americans experience chronic headaches. For at least half of these people, the problem is severe and sometimes disabling. It can also be costly: headache sufferers make over 8 million visits a year to doctor's offices. Migraine victims alone lose over 64 million workdays because of headache pain.
Esgic (acetaminophen / butalbital / caffeine) is to relieve complex tension (muscle contraction) headaches, although precisely how it works is unknown.
Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer. Butalbital is in a class of drugs called barbiturates that slow down your central nervous system (brain and nerve impulses) causing relaxation. Caffeine is believed to constrict dilated blood vessels that may contribute to tension headaches.
Fioricet, a strong, non-narcotic pain reliever and relaxant, is prescribed for the relief of tension headache symptoms caused by muscle contractions in the head, neck, and shoulder area. It combines a sedative barbiturate (butalbital), a non-aspirin pain reliever (acetaminophen), and caffeine.
Imitrex is a headache medicine. It is believed to work by causing vasoconstriction (narrowing) of arteries and veins that supply blood to your head. Imitrex is used to treat vascular headaches such as migraine and cluster headaches. Imitrex will not prevent migraines or cluster headaches or reduce the number of attacks; it will only treat a migraine or cluster headache that is already occurring.
Take one tablet as soon as you notice symptoms of a migraine, or at any time during an attack. If your symptoms go away, but then return, you can take additional doses as needed every 2 hours, up to a maximum of 300 mg in 24 hours, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
