Esgic is a combination of acetaminophen, caffeine and butalbital. It is used primarily for the treatment of episodic, not daily, headache problems. It may work well for moderate and severe tension-type headache, but it is less effective for migraine.

Butalbital is habit-forming and can lead to rebound headaches. Therefore, Esgic should be restricted to intermittent use, not more than 2 days per week. Butalbital is also a sedative and is not recommended for use in patients prone to depression. Side effects include drowsiness and dizziness. Some patients may be sensitive to the caffeine component. Esgic-Plus has a similar combination of drugs as Esgic, but with a greater amount of the analgesic acetaminophen.