Should butalbital-containing analgesics be banned? Yes.

Abstract

In the United States analgesic-overuse headache is often caused by butalbital-containing analgesics. These agents can cause physical and psychological dependency, and dangerous withdrawal syndromes. Butalbital-containing analgesics have already been banned in several European countries. They are proven effective in tension-type headache, but not in migraine; there are many alternative treatments for migraine and tension-type headache. In the 20 years since analgesic overuse headache was widely recognized, butalbital overuse has remained distressingly common. It is time to ban these agents.

• Authors: William B Young, Hua Chiang Siow
• Journal: Current pain and headache reports (Curr Pain Headache Rep) Vol. 6 Issue 2 Pg. 151-5 (Apr 2002) ISSN: 1531-3433 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11872187 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Barbiturates
• butalbital

Topics

• Barbiturates (adverse effects, economics, therapeutic use)
• Headache (chemically induced, economics)
• Humans
• Legislation, Drug
• Tension-Type Headache (drug therapy, economics)