Butalb-Caff-Acetaminoph-Codein (butalbital/acetaminophen/caffeine/codeine phosphate)

Amphetamines/Anorexiants/Stimulants Oral Capsule

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Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data

Overview

Butalbital, acetaminophen, caffeine, and codeine phosphate (butalbital/acetaminophen/caffeine/codeine) is a fixed combination containing butalbital (a short to intermediate-acting barbiturate), acetaminophen (a non-opiate, non-salicylate analgesic and antipyretic), caffeine (a CNS stimulant), and codeine (an opioid analgesic).

Acetaminophen is a synthetic nonopiate derivative of p-aminophenol that produces analgesia and antipyresis.

Codeine is a phenanthrene-derivative opiate agonist.

Caffeine is a xanthine-derivative CNS stimulant that occurs naturally in tea and coffee, but is prepared synthetically for commercial drug use.

Barbiturates are substituted pyrimidine derivatives of barbituric acid that cause CNS depression and are used as sedatives, hypnotics, anxiolytics, anesthetics, or anticonvulsants.

Acetaminophen is a non-salicylate antipyretic and non-opioid analgesic agent. Acetaminophen produces analgesia and antipyresis in human and animal studies. Although the precise mechanism by which acetaminophen exerts its analgesic and antipyretic properties is not known, its primary activity is thought to occur centrally.

Individual doses of up to 3 grams and repeated doses of 1 gram of acetaminophen every 6 hours for 48 hours have not been shown to significantly impact platelet aggregation. Acetaminophen also does not have any immediate or delayed effects on small-vessel hemostasis. In patients with hemophilia treated with acetaminophen, there were no significant effects on bleeding time compared to healthy patients after multiple doses.

Following IV administration of single 500-mg, 650-mg, and 1-g doses of acetaminophen in adults, the pharmacokinetics are proportional to the dose administered. The peak plasma concentration of acetaminophen occurs at the end of the 15-minute IV infusion and is up to 70% higher than peak concentrations observed following oral administration of the same dose; however, systemic exposure to acetaminophen is similar following IV or oral administration. Following IV administration of a single dose of 15 mg/kg in pediatric patients or 1 g in adults, systemic exposure to acetaminophen is similar.

Acetaminophen plasma concentrations in neonates >32 weeks gestational age at birth receiving dosages of 12.5 mg/kg IV are similar to those in infants, children, and adolescents receiving dosages of 15 mg/kg IV, and adults receiving 1 g IV. Acetaminophen is widely distributed into most body tissues except fat. Acetaminophen is distributed into human milk in small quantities following oral administration.

About 10-25% of acetaminophen in blood is bound to plasma proteins.

Acetaminophen primarily undergoes metabolism via first-order kinetics that involves 3 separate pathways. These pathways include glucuronide conjugation, sulfate conjugation, and oxidation via the cytochrome P-450 (CYP) enzyme pathways, primarily CYP isoenzyme 2E1, to form a reactive intermediate metabolite N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI). At therapeutic doses, NAPQI is rapidly conjugated with glutathione and further metabolized to form cysteine and mercapturic acid conjugates.

Metabolites of acetaminophen are primarily excreted in the urine. Less than 5% of a dose of acetaminophen is excreted in urine as free acetaminophen and >90% of the dose is excreted within 24 hours after ingestion. Acetaminophen has been reported to have a plasma half-life of 2.4-3 hours in children, adolescents, and adults.

Codeine is an opioid agonist that is relatively selective for the mu-opioid receptor but has a much weaker affinity than morphine. The analgesic properties of codeine may be secondary to its conversion to morphine, although the exact mechanism of analgesic action remains unknown.

Codeine and its salts are well absorbed following oral administration with peak plasma concentrations occurring 60 minutes after administration. When codeine sulfate was administered orally with food (30 minutes after ingesting a high fat/high calorie meal), there was no significant change in the rate and extent of absorption. Codeine is widely distributed into tissues.

Protein binding is low (about 7-25%). Codeine is metabolized mainly in the liver where it undergoes O-demethylation by cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoenzyme 2D6 to the active metabolite morphine, N-demethylation by CYP3A4 to norcodeine, and conjugation with glucuronic acid to codeine-6-glucuronide. Morphine and norcodeine are further metabolized via conjugation with glucuronic acid.

Codeine is excreted mainly (approximately 90%) in the urine as metabolites (only about 10% of unchanged codeine). The plasma half-life of codeine and its metabolites is approximately 3 hours.

USES: See also Warning section. This combination medication is used to treat tension headaches. Codeine is an opioid pain reliever that acts on certain centers in the brain to give you pain relief.

Acetaminophen helps to decrease the pain from the headache. Caffeine helps increase the effects of acetaminophen. Butalbital is a sedative which helps to decrease anxiety and cause sleepiness and relaxation.

Generic name: butalbital/acetaminophen/caffeine/codeine phosphate
Pronunciation: (KOE-deen/bue-TAL-bi-tal/a-SEET-a-MIN-oh-fen/KAF-een)
Drug class: Amphetamines/Anorexiants/Stimulants
Therapeutic class: Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory or Antipyretic

Reference product & biosimilars

No reference, biosimilar or interchangeable associated with this drug.

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Indications

The following indications are listed for Butalb-Caff-Acetaminoph-Codein:

  • Tension-Type Headache

Dosing

It isessential that the manufacturer's labeling be consulted for more detailed information on dosage and administration of this drug. Dosage summary:

To minimize risk of overdosage, recommended age-appropriate daily dosages of acetaminophen should not be exceeded.

Dosage of codeine sulfate and codeine phosphate is expressed in terms of the salt.

Some clinicians suggest that when used as a mild CNS stimulant to overcome fatigue, oral doses of 100-200 mg of anhydrous caffeine are required. The manufacturers state that adults and children 12 years of age or older may receive a dosage of 100-200 mg no more frequently than every 3-4 hours.

For the treatment of apnea of prematurity, commercially available caffeine citrate injection in a loading dose of 20 mg/kg (10 mg/kg when expressed in terms of anhydrous caffeine) is administered by slow IV infusion (i.e., over 30 minutes) using a syringe infusion pump. Beginning 24 hours after the loading dose, maintenance doses of caffeine citrate of 5 mg/kg (2.5 mg/kg when expressed as anhydrous caffeine) may be administered every 24 hours, either orally or via slow IV infusion (i.e., over 10 minutes) using a syringe infusion pump. The manufacturer states that the safety and efficacy of dosing periods exceeding 10-12 days have not been established. Other dosing regimens+ for the treatment of apnea of prematurity have used caffeine doses (in terms of anhydrous caffeine) of 5-10 mg/kg, given IV, IM, or orally as a loading dose, and followed by 2.5-5 mg/kg, given IV, IM, or orally once daily. Maintenance dosage has been adjusted according to the patient's response and tolerance and plasma caffeine concentrations.

When caffeine citrate is used for the treatment of apnea of prematurity in infants with hepatic or renal impairment, serum concentrations of caffeine should be monitored and dosage adjusted to avoid toxicity.

Analeptic use of caffeine is strongly discouraged by most clinicians. However, the manufacturers of caffeine and sodium benzoate injection recommend IM, or in emergency respiratory failure, IV injection of 500 mg of the drug (about 250 mg of anhydrous caffeine) or a maximum single dose of 1 g (about 500 mg of anhydrous caffeine) for the treatment of respiratory depression associated with overdosage of CNS depressants, including opiate analgesics and alcohol, and with electric shock.

Some clinicians recommend that when caffeine and sodium benzoate injection is used in children for CNS stimulation+, an IM, IV, or subcutaneous dose of 8 mg/kg (about 4 mg of anhydrous caffeine per kg) (not to exceed 500 mg) or 250 mg/m2 (about 125 mg of anhydrous caffeine per m2) be given up to every 4 hours if necessary.

In general, the smallest effective dose should be used. Dosage must be individualized for each patient. Dosage should be reduced in geriatric or debilitated patients and in patients with impaired hepatic function. Because of their higher metabolic rate, children may tolerate comparatively larger doses than adults. Barbiturates should be withdrawn slowly to avoid the possibility of precipitating withdrawal symptoms.

In the treatment of insomnia, consideration should be given to intermittent rather than to daily administration; with daily administration, duration of therapy should be limited to 2 weeks. To prevent rebound in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, withdrawal of a single therapeutic dose over 5 or 6 days (e.g., decreasing dosage from 3 to 2 doses daily for 1 week) has been recommended when barbiturates are discontinued following prolonged use.

*Use the lowest effective dosage for the shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals.

*Individualize dosing based on the severity of pain, patient response, prior analgesic experience, and risk factors for addiction, abuse, and misuse.

*Discuss availability of naloxone with the patient and caregiver and assess each patient's need for access to naloxone, both when initiating and renewing treatment with butalbital/acetaminophen/caffeine/codeine. Consider prescribing naloxone based on the patient's risk factors for overdose.

*Initiate treatment with 1 or 2 capsules every 4 hours as needed for pain. Total daily dosage should not exceed 6 capsules.

*Do not abruptly discontinue butalbital/acetaminophen/caffeine/codeine in a physically dependent patient because rapid discontinuation of opioid analgesics has resulted in serious withdrawal symptoms, uncontrolled pain, and suicide.

Drug interactions

Codeine is metabolized by cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 2D6 to its active metabolite, morphine. Codeine is also metabolized by CYP3A4 to an inactive metabolite.

Concurrent administration of numerous drugs with barbiturates has been reported to affect either the patient's response to the barbiturates or to the other drugs. Most of the reported drug interactions relate to phenobarbital, but the possibility of similar interaction with other barbiturates should be considered.

In addition to the interactions listed, many other drugs have been reported to alter the response to barbiturates and/or have their responses altered by barbiturates; however, in most instances the clinical importance of these interactions has not been established. Since documentation for these interactions may be forthcoming and additional clinically important interactions may be established, caution should be observed when any drug is added to or deleted from any therapeutic regimen which contains a barbiturate, giving consideration to the possible need for dosage adjustment.

Contraindications

*Children younger than 12 years of age.

*Post-operative management in children younger than 18 years of age following tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy.

*Significant respiratory depression.

*Acute or severe bronchial asthma in an unmonitored setting or in absence of resuscitative equipment.

*Concurrent use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or use of MAOIs within the last 14 days.

*Known or suspected GI obstruction, including paralytic ileus.

*Intolerance or hypersensitivity to acetaminophen, caffeine, butalbital or codeine, or components of the preparation.

*Porphyria.

*Known hypersensitivity to acetaminophen or any ingredient in the formulation.

*Severe hepatic impairment or severe active liver disease.

*Children younger than 12 years of age.

*Postoperative management in children younger than 18 years of age following tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy.

*Significant respiratory depression.

*Acute or severe bronchial asthma in an unmonitored setting or in absence of resuscitative equipment.

*Concurrent use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or use of MAOIs within the last 14 days.

*Known or suspected GI obstruction, including paralytic ileus.

*Hypersensitivity to codeine or any components of the formulation.

Adverse reactions

Frequently reported adverse reactions are drowsiness, lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and intoxicated feeling.

The most common adverse effects reported in clinical trials in >=5% of patients receiving IV acetaminophen were nausea, vomiting, headache, and insomnia in adults and nausea, vomiting, constipation, and pruritus in pediatric patients.

Common adverse effects associated with oral or rectal administration of acetaminophen include skin rash, hypersensitivity reactions, nephrotoxicity, and hematologic abnormalities (e.g., anemia, leukopenia, neutropenia, and pancytopenia).

The most common adverse reactions reported with codeine sulfate tablets include drowsiness, lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and sweating.

Precautions

No enhanced messaging available.

ICD codes

CodeTypeDescription
Tension-type headache
G44.2ICD10CMTension-type headache
G44.20ICD10CMTension-type headache, unspecified
G44.201ICD10CMTension-type headache, unspecified, intractable
G44.209ICD10CMTension-type headache, unspecified, not intractable
G44.21ICD10CMEpisodic tension-type headache
G44.211ICD10CMEpisodic tension-type headache, intractable
G44.219ICD10CMEpisodic tension-type headache, not intractable
G44.22ICD10CMChronic tension-type headache
G44.221ICD10CMChronic tension-type headache, intractable
G44.229ICD10CMChronic tension-type headache, not intractable

ICD code information from First Databank (FDB).

Formulary status

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Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data