Butalbital for headaches

[Lightning-Nl]

I sure do make a lot of threads huh? lol

Anyways, what's the thinking behind using butalbital do eliminate headaches. As far as I was aware, GABA activity actually causes headaches. So why would this be a good idea if someone has a headache, if it's going to just give them more pain? Also, when Butalbital is used in a combination product with Caffeine, wouldn't they be paradoxical? I know Caffeine is an Adenosine antagonist, but from what I've read, Adenosine binding causes GABA release and vise versa. So wouldn't this be a paradox when take with Butalbital?

Sorry for all the questions guys. Just a curios person being curios

 

[sekio]

As far as I was aware, GABA activity actually causes headaches.

You have to be more specific here. GABA-A positive modulation via benzos/barbs/anesthetics doesn't cause headaches at all. Maybe muscimol causes headaches (GABA-A full agonism). I think GABA-B agonism just leads to the spins and nausea.

So why would this be a good idea if someone has a headache

Butalbital has no painkilling properties, but it will make you not care about your headache any more. If your headache is caused by stress/anxiety it will also help.

Also, when Butalbital is used in a combination product with Caffeine, wouldn't they be paradoxical?

The caffeine does counteract some of the sedation of the butalbital, but I dwouldn't call it a "paradoxical" combination. More like a complimentary combination. The real purpose of the caffeine in headache medications is actually to help treat headaches caused by overexpanded blood vessels in the meninges. It causes them to contract and reduces the physical pressure on tissues around it. It's also a potentiator for APAP. And - it just so happens to be a good cure for caffeine dependency symptoms too

No such thing as asking too many questions, as long as you're also doing your own research.