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Compare Fiorinal vs. Relpax

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Key takeaways

Butalbital/aspirin/caffeine (formerly Fiornal) nd Relpax (eletriptan) are both used to treat headaches, but they work in different ways and are used for different types of headaches. Fiorinal is a combination medication that includes a barbiturate, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and caffeine, and it's used to treat tension headaches. It is a Schedule III controlled substance due to the risk of misuse and dependence. On the other hand, Relpax is a triptan used to treat migraine attacks with or without aura. It works by attaching to serotonin receptors in the brain to relieve migraine pain. Unlike Fiorinal, Relpax is not a controlled substance and is considered a first-choice treatment for migraines. Fiorinal is taken every 4 hours as needed, while Relpax is taken at the first sign of a migraine and can be repeated after 2 hours if needed. Both medications are available in generic forms, making them more affordable options. However, Fiorinal is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, whereas the safety of Relpax during pregnancy is not fully established and should be discussed with a healthcare provider.

  • Fiorinal
    Eletriptan (Relpax)
  • Fiorinal
    Eletriptan (Relpax)

  • Summary of Fiorinal vs. Relpax

    Summary for Barbiturate / NSAID / Adenosine antagonist
    Prescription only

    Fiorinal is a combination medication that contains three active ingredients: butalbital (a barbiturate), aspirin (an NSAID), and caffeine (an adenosine antagonist). It's used to treat symptoms of tension headaches in adults. The brand name Fiorinal has been discontinued, but there are still lower-cost generic pills available. The medication is taken by mouth every 4 hours. The most common side effects are sleepiness and dizziness. This medication is a schedule III controlled substance because it has a risk of misuse and dependence.

    Summary for Triptan
    Prescription only

    Eletriptan, also known by its brand name Relpax, is a triptan that's a first-choice treatment option for adults who have migraine attacks with or without aura. This medication is available as a tablet that's taken by mouth at the first sign of a migraine attack. The dosage can be repeated 2 hours later if the migraine comes back or doesn't go away. Side effects include making you sleepy and dizzy. Eletriptan (Relpax) is available as a lower-cost generic.

  • Indications of Fiorinal vs. Relpax

    Indications for
    •Tension headaches in adults
    Indications for
    •Treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura in adults

  • Pros and Cons of Fiorinal vs. Relpax

    Pros and Const for Barbiturate / NSAID / Adenosine antagonist
    Pros
    •Works well to treat tension headaches
    •Combines three medications into a single pill to relieve headache pain in different ways
    •Available as a lower-cost generic
    Cons
    •Not recommended as a first-choice option for headaches because of the risk of rebound headaches
    •A controlled medication that can be habit-forming
    •Can cause bothersome withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop the medication after taking it for a long time
    •Hasn't been studied in children
    Pros and Const for Triptan
    Pros
    •Might provide migraine pain relief for a longer period of time than other triptans
    •One of the first-choice options for short-term treatment of migraines
    •Starts to work after 30 minutes
    •Available as a lower-cost, generic
    Cons
    •Only available as a tablet that's swallowed whole
    •Not recommended for people with severe liver damage
    •Not known if it's safe or works well for children
    •Not used for preventing migraines or treating other types of headaches

  • Common Side Effects of Fiorinal vs. Relpax

    Common Side Effects for
    •Sleepiness
    •Dizziness
    Common Side Effects for
    •Dizziness (up to 6%)
    •Sleepiness (up to 6%)
    •Nausea (up to 5%)
    •Body weakness (up to 5%)
    •"Pins and needles" feeling in the arms or legs (3%)

  • Warnings of Fiorinal vs. Relpax

    Common Side Effects for
    •Stomach bleeding and ulcers
    •Kidney problems
    •Reye's syndrome in children
    •Difficulty concentrating and extreme sleepiness
    •Potential for misuse, dependence, and withdrawal
    •Severe allergic reactions and skin reactions
    Common Side Effects for
    •Heart problems and high blood pressure
    •Stroke or other brain injury
    •Extreme narrowing of blood vessels
    •Worsened headaches if eletriptan (Relpax) is taken too often
    •Serotonin syndrome

  • Prices with our coupons for Fiorinal vs. Relpax

    Learn more about Fiorinal
    Learn more about Eletriptan

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