Butalbital and pediatric headache: stay off the downward path.

Abstract

Despite limited evidence from the literature surrounding safety or efficacy, butalbital-containing medicines (BCMs) have maintained their rank as "go-to" prescribed migraine and headache relief drugs in the United States, despite bans on these barbiturates in Germany and other European countries. Providers at the Pediatric Headache Program at Boston Children's Hospital recommend that clinicians prescribe triptan-based medications instead of BCMs, given the known negative side effects of BCMs on the general population, and the uncertain longitudinal trajectory of BCMs on developing brains.

• Authors: Alessandra Caruso, Lori Lazdowsky, Jonathan Rabner, Jason Haberman, Alyssa LeBel
• Journal: Headache (Headache) Vol. 55 Issue 2 Pg. 327-30 (Feb 2015) ISSN: 1526-4610 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25532552 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2014 American Headache Society.

Chemical References

• Barbiturates
• Hypnotics and Sedatives
• butalbital

Topics

• Barbiturates (therapeutic use)
• Headache (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Hypnotics and Sedatives (therapeutic use)
• Pediatrics
• Retrospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome