Should butalbital-containing analgesics be banned? Yes.
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.
Young
William B
WB
Jefferson Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, 111 South 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. William.B.Young@mail.tju.edu
Siow
Hua Chiang
HC
D001463:Barbiturates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006261:Headache / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics
D001463:Barbiturates; C004470:butalbital