Posted by pinksharkmark (64.32.117.199) on July 16, 2001 at 17:41:30:
In Reply to: Butalbital posted by Bob P on July 16, 2001 at 12:32:32:
Fiorinal is a mix of aspirin (there is a version with tylenol as well), caffeine, and butalbital (a fast-acting, medium-duration, relatively mild barbiturate). Fiorinal C is the same, but with codeine added.
Fiorinal was the first medication I found that put a dent in my headaches. I can still get by with nothing but Fiorinal C at the very beginning and the very end of my cycles. They are extremely effective in eliminating shadows, at least for me, and will even handle up to a Kip 7 or 8 IF TAKEN AT THE VERY FIRST WARNING SIGN of an impending headache.
Once my cycle reaches the point where I am having multiple headaches daily, the Fiorinal becomes useless. I have no idea why this is, it just is.
As for detoxing from them... despite the two potentially addictive components (codeine and the barbiturate) I have no difficulty whatsoever in stopping them from one day to the next... no tapering off, just straight out stopping them. Before Imitrex was invented, I would sometimes use as many as 8 or 10 Fiorinal C 1/4 grain capsules daily for weeks or months on end. I never experienced a single "withdrawal symptom" from abruptly stopping them.
Your mileage may vary.
pinky