title: 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.affiliation: Jefferson Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, 111 South 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. William.B.Young@mail.tju.edu
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Hua Chiang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Siow
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D001463:Barbiturates; C004470:butalbital