I was in an accident 3 years ago, whip-lash... Ever since then I have been having more frequent, more intolerable headaches. In the past 3 years I have seen so many different docs I can not even count or remember. I have felt like the docs are not listening to me and gave up. Finally after one day at my back doc visit, I had a meltdown. He sent me to a highly recommended nuero doc in my area, in turn he prescribed FIORICET. I am literally sitting here with it next to me with a headache as I type. I am afraid that it will make me feel high or out of it. I have 3 kids to run around with all day this summer and don't want to be disconnected from reality. I have taken narcotics that just make me feel sicker, or just knock me out. As most people know with chronic worsening headaches you will take anything to make it go away. I am just wondering if anyone can tell me what it feels like other than kicking a headaches butte!
Fioricet - What does it make you feel like?
Question posted by tillyof3 on 19 July 2012
Last updated on 19 November 2018 by feminva
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
27 Answers
Fioricet is with tylenol (acetaminophen); Fiorinal is with aspirin. Both have butalbital, caffeine.
Either one works for my migraines, usually, (I take one). --I ONLY take them for migraines or for headaches that don't go away after taking over-the-counter meds (usually due to dehydration, weather pressure, hormones?, other... ) --
I feel relief of the pressure and pain and nausea of my migraine. I have no trouble sleeping if at nighttime. I did find that if taken for a regular headache I feel energized and focused and get tasks done where I am usually lethargic or struggle to focus (I am retired).
A couple people I know who have tried it did not like that it made them sleepy -- I do not have that problem.
Take it! It's not like taking pain med. it will not effect u like that. It gives a little relaxed feeling. Not like you're high like pain! A friend was having a severe migraine, I gave her one of mine nothing was helping her, she took it & was AMAZED! You will have a relaxed feel, for a little bit, but nothing Strong like you can't function. It has caffeine in it, so some ppl feel more awake with it. Don't worry about not taking it!! It is the BEST migraine medication! The Dr was on point!!
I take Fioricet because it contains Tylenol not aspirin but have taken Fiorinal—for migraine or persistent headache that plain aspirin won’t stop. I try not to take too much aspirin. Either of them make me feel energized not sleepy and increase my focus which is how I realized that I have ADD. I told the doctor that when I took Fiorinal during my college course when I had a headache I really focused, could recall information (less stress? on exams). I do not abuse it—have no problem only using for migraines/headache. —no rebound.
However IF I take it and lie down due to headache it will let me sleep.
We all know that everyone responds differently to ANY medication period. I personally have multiple Medical Issues, one of which includes BAD Tension Headaches, as well as Chronic Migraine. When Fioricet was first prescribed for me... it was literally "My" MIRACLE Drug. I describe it as a "Pumped Up Version of Excedrin". I do not take the version with codeine. What you MUST be absolutely aware of are the items to follow:
1.) In my case taking #2 pills at the onset was the only way I received relief. 2.) There is a 4 Day Half Life to this drug! 3.) DO NOT take it everyday for an extended period of time, because it will produce "Rebound Headaches" that don't even come close to what you think are BAD headaches NOW! My Rx allows for me to take 1-2 tablets every 4 hours as needed, but I've never required that. BTW it contains caffeine. 4.) Use it when you have no other option, and see how it affects you. Personally I am very grateful for it! Best of Luck!
First, if you are having such bad headaches from a neck injury have you seen a cervical spine specialist? Had an mri and seen what can be done to fix the problem that's causing this chronic pain? Coming from someone who has suffered chronic migraines and daily headaches for 20 years and has had 3 herniated cervical discs for 4, I know many of them are from my neck( some not all). I have taken Fioricet with and without codeine (as well as just about everything else on the market for headaches as far as abortive and preventative treatment/even Botox) and Fioricet will help a headache IF you take it and take one or two doses and put it down, maybe take it a week or two later if needed and so on.
I say this bc when I take it in repeated doses it makes me mean, edgy, aggressive (I have to take two pills to work -I'm prescribed 1-2 tabs and one never works) the one dose I'm normally fine but, if the headache comes back which it normally does and I take another dose, watch out. So, for this reason... I don't ever take this medication anymore. I take norco or tramadol, those may make am a little tired but, never make me feel like fioricet. That's why it floors me that fioricet is so easily handed out. It will also cause severe rebound headaches of you take it a lot. It can't be taken in repeated doses or days in a row or you will end up in a rebound cycle and the headaches will be awful. That's why I hate that Drs even hand out this med. I have never been high from it or not known who or where I was, I was never even close to being out of control or not aware of what I was doing, even when I first started taking it. I know what it's like to be in that pain where you would do just about anything to make it stop. It is a safe medication if taken properly. i hate to talk negatively about any Drs I haven't had experienced myself but, with my experience with this, it's a red flag to me that a neurologist prescribed this just for the simple reason that it causes such bad rebounds. This is like neurology 101, headache 101... hello??? I don't know anyone who has been given this med and didn't at some point end up in a rebound cycle.
Your weight, obviously, effects how it is going to make you feel. I am 151 lbs and 20 mg makes me feel nothing but helps my headache in a matter of minutes. This is a wonderful medication for headaches and whatever it was prescribed to you for! Do not use it recreationally as with any other substance!
Hi I just started fioricet with codeine about 2 days ago and it does make me really sleepy but I can function... my dr gave it to me for migraines I've had one 12 days now and have to get a CT to rule out a brain bleed ... it semi helps with the pain it dulls it some but for me it does not take it away completely... if your children are younger and can't make lunch or anything on their own I would suggest asking your dr for something else because when I don't fight the sleepiness and I do let myself sleep I sleep like the dead and hear absolutely nothing and I'm on the lower dose... hope this helps
I am a pharmacist and a migraine sufferer as well. Fioricet is great for the really bad headaches that you can't seem to shake but with any drug the sooner you take it the better it works. I only take it when I have one of my terrible unshakeable headaches. It doesnt cause me a "high" but it does make me feel relaxed and a little tired but nothing that would impair me. A good tip/trick to getting rid of headaches is to take a regular 325mg aspirin tablet with something of high caffeine content like mountain dew or espresso. Caffeine accentuates the aspirin and makes it work a million times better just make sure to eat a little something when you do this. It's a good tip esp if you are out or traveling and a headache comes on since you can find small packs of aspirin and lots of caffeine at any gas station. Hope this helps.
It makes you feel like you drank a couple cups of good coffee..it really worked on my monster headaches!!
Fioricet has caffeine in it. You might try just drinking some coffee or some other source of caffeine at the beginning of a migraine and it might chase your migraine away. It often works for me.
Been taking it for at least 15 years for the occasional headache. I would get tension headaches that would last a week and nothing would help, so I got prescribed this. Sometimes when I have a bad headache nothing works, and if I don't catch it in time, like another person said, it's still hard to get rid of the headache.
As to feeling - if I can get rid of the headache in one or two doses, I feel nothing usually. Sometimes I feel a sensation when it starts to kick in as if it's lifting the pain out of my body. When I have to take more than two (not at one time but spaced out over several hours or more) I will begin to feel something in my neck and shoulders like it's continually pulling the headache away and keeping me feeling ok again. It's extremely subtle and not unpleasant. Ive never felt drowsy on this medication and never felt high.
I do, however, often get a bit nauseous when I first take butalbital if my headache is very bad, but it goes away. If my headache hasn't gotten that bad, I usually do not feel nauseous.
Alternatives that help me:
I also have a prescription for a muscle relaxant, which I take with Tylenol for tension headache. Depending on the type of headache sometimes this helps and I don't need to take the butalbital. Sometimes it doesn't. Usually I just make a guess as to which one might be better to take and if it doesn't work, I try the other on 2 hours.
Getting a neck heating pad helps some with tension headaches, but not enough to where I can stop taking other medicines. Worth a try to mitigate some symptoms
There really isn't a high to it I ate 8 of them and it made my stomach hurt and made me itch all over I really would not consider trying to get high off these
Fioricet totally wipes away the headache pain, it's like a mild wind blowing over you and swooping the pain out of your head. I've never felt sleepy, but it does allow me to go back to sleep in the morning. I have worked, exercised, walked, and fully functioned on the pill. It works like magic, gives you a better feeling because your headache is gone in almost no time at all. If you wait to take it, Fioricet will not work. You have to catch the headache as soon as possible. Once the headache is full blown, the Fioricet is worthless.
I was on it for years..only with codeine..it's a wonder for migraines..now i can't find a doc that is willing to give me the one I was on..wen something works leave it alone!! It's great and I never felt tired or out of it..
It's really not that bad. Your first time it may be relaxing and or jittery too cuz of the caffeine. I'd try a half of it.
I have been taking Fiorinal (with aspirin) or Fioricet (with acetaminophen) for about 30 years . Its my go to when I feel a migraine coming on. If I take it right away at onset, the headache will go away; if not, then it at least keeps my migraine at a low level of discomfort.
I can tell a headache is a migraine because I become nausus and also have to have bowel movement as the headache begins.
RE: tired/not tired: Unlike most people it seems, it does not make me tired, in fact, I have to be careful when out shopping because I tend to spend more$ -- but it enables me to sleep if I am in bed with the migraine.
I am also energized and motivated when I take it and if home I want to clean my house. Though its a very helpful drug for me, I use it sparingly.. drug of last resort for headache/osteoarthritis pain.
Adding: Migraines are different for each person... mine are very painful if I don't control them early on; usually pain more on one side /top of head, and light bothers my eyes. They used to be a few times a year (maybe associated with hormones/period), now I might get one or two a year -- in my 60s. I do get frequent 'normal' headaches and do not use fiorinal/fioricet for those unless they persist.
This is exactly how it makes me feel.
Related topics
Further information
- Fioricet uses and safety info
- Fioricet prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Fioricet (detailed)
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