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Should butalbital-containing analgesics be banned? Yes.

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jefferson Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, 111 South 11th Street, 19107, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    William B. Young MD & Hua Chiang Siow MD

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  1. William B. Young MD
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  2. Hua Chiang Siow MD
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Young, W.B., Siow, H.C. Should butalbital-containing analgesics be banned? Yes.. Current Science Inc 6, 151–155 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-002-0012-y

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