Butalbital is a
barbiturate with an intermediate duration of action. Butalbital is often combined with other medications, such as acetaminophen (paracetamol) or aspirin, and is commonly prescribed for the treatment of
pain and
headache. The various formulations combined with codeine are
FDA-approved for the treatment of
tension headaches. Butalbital has the same chemical formula as
talbutal but a different structure—one that presents as 5-allyl-5-isobutylbarbituric acid.