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Compare Fiorinal vs. Zomig

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

Key takeaways

Butalbital/aspirin/caffeine (formerly Fiornal) and Zomig (zolmitriptan) 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 is used to treat tension headaches. It is a Schedule III controlled substance due to the risk of misuse and dependence. Fiorinal is taken every 4 hours as needed, up to 6 pills per day. On the other hand, Zomig is a triptan used for the short-term treatment of migraines. It works by attaching to serotonin receptors to reduce blood vessel swelling and pain signals. Zomig is not a controlled substance and is taken as a single dose at the first sign of a migraine, with a possible second dose after 2 hours if needed. Fiorinal is available only in generic form, while Zomig is available in both brand-name and generic forms, and comes in oral tablets, orally disintegrating tablets, and nasal spray. Common side effects of Fiorinal include sleepiness and dizziness, whereas Zomig can cause dizziness, chest pain, and an unusual taste with the nasal spray.

  • Fiorinal
    Zolmitriptan (Zomig)
  • Fiorinal
    Zolmitriptan (Zomig)

  • Summary of Fiorinal vs. Zomig

    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

    Zolmitriptan (Zomig) is used for the short-term treatment of migraines. You typically take just one dose when you have a migraine. Zolmitriptan (Zomig) can cause side effects like dizziness and chest, neck, or jaw pain. This medication is a tablet that you swallow. It also comes as an orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) and a nasal spray, which can be good options for people who have trouble swallowing pills during a migraine. Zolmitriptan (Zomig) is available by prescription only as a brand-name and generic medication; it's not found over the counter.

  • Indications of Fiorinal vs. Zomig

    Indications for
    •Tension headaches in adults
    Indications for
    •Treatment of migraine

  • Pros and Cons of Fiorinal vs. Zomig

    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
    •One of the first-choice options for adults to treat moderate or severe migraine
    •Works within 2 hours after taking the dose
    •Has ODT and nasal spray forms, so it's a good option for people who have trouble swallowing pills during a migraine
    Cons
    •Not used for other types of headaches
    •Doesn't prevent migraines from happening
    •Can worsen your headaches if you take the medication for more than 9 days in a month

  • Common Side Effects of Fiorinal vs. Zomig

    Common Side Effects for
    •Sleepiness
    •Dizziness
    Common Side Effects for

    Tablets and orally disintegrating tablets

    •Nausea (up to 9%)
    •Dizziness (up to 8%)
    •Pins and needles feeling in the arms or legs (up to 7%)
    •Neck, throat, or jaw pain, tightness, or pressure (up to 7%)
    •Sleepiness (up to 6%)
    •Feeling warm or cold (up to 6%)
    •Body weakness (up to 5%)
    •Dry mouth (up to 5%)
    •Chest pain, tightness, pressure, or heaviness (up to 3%)

    Nasal spray

    •Unusual taste (up to 17%)
    •Dizziness (6%)
    •Pins and needles feeling in your arms or legs (5%)
    •Throat pain (4%)
    •Feeling warm (4%)
    •Dry mouth (3%)
    •Body weakness (3%)

  • Warnings of Fiorinal vs. Zomig

    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 attack and chest pain (angina)
    •Irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmias)
    •Stroke or other brain injury
    •Blood vessel issues
    •Serotonin syndrome
    •High blood pressure
    •Caution use in people with phenylketonuria (PKU) - for orally disintegrating tablet only

  • Prices with our coupons for Fiorinal vs. Zomig

    Learn more about Fiorinal
    Learn more about Zolmitriptan

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