Cephadyn is a medication used to treat tension headaches. According to Drugs.com, it is a combination of two drugs, acetaminophen and butalbital. Acetaminophen decreases pain and fever, while butalbital is a barbiturate that relaxes muscles. The Mayo Clinic says that Cephadyn is available as a tablet, capsule or solution. You should take this medication as your doctor prescribes.
Common Side Effects
According to Drugs.com, Cephadyn's common side effects include sleepiness, headache, dry mouth and constipation. It may also cause heartburn, dysphagia (trouble swallowing), paresthesias (numbness or tingling), leg pain, itching, nasal congestion and diaphoresis (sweating). Dysphagia puts you at risk for choking and losing weight. It is important you inform your doctor when these side effects remain for at least four days. He may reduce the number of Cephadyn pills you take.
Serious Side Effects
According to the Mayo Clinic, Cephadyn can cause such life-threatening but rare side effects as chest pain, shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheezing. It can cause such serious effects as lip sores or bleeding, muscle cramps, mouth sores or ulcers, confusion, depression and euphoria. Cephadyn may affect the digestive tract and cause melena (black stools), bloody stools, swollen glands and easy bleeding or bruising. Typically, easy bruising and bleeding result from thrombocytopenia, a blood condition of low platelet counts. Without enough platelets, the blood cannot clot. Cephadyn can cause thickened or scaly skin, and facial, lip or eyelid swelling. Other serious effects include convulsions and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Jaundice is usually a sign of liver damage. Call your medical care provider as soon as these symptoms emerge.
Additional Concerns
Avoid Cephadyn if you are allergic to acetaminophen or butalbital. Hives, trouble breathing and angioedema (puffiness of the face, throat and lips) may result.
Do not take Cephadyn if you have liver or kidney disease, gastrointestinal problems, or a history of alcohol or substance abuse. Cephadyn may exacerbate these conditions.
Drugs.com indicates that Cephadyn can pass into breast milk, so do not take this medication if you are breastfeeding. It is unknown whether Cephadyn can harm a fetus, so inform your doctor if you are pregnant.
Avoid combining Cephadyn with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as phenilzine or rasagaline. The combination may lead to the aforementioned effects.
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