Does Excedrin Extra Strength Have Caffeine

Excedrin Serious Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Excedrin: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

In rare cases, acetaminophen may cause a severe skin reaction that can be fatal. This could occur even if you have taken acetaminophen in the past and had no reaction. Stop taking Excedrin and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling. If you have this type of reaction, you should never again take any medicine that contains acetaminophen.

Stop using Excedrin and call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe anxiety, agitation, confusion, panic;
• easy bruising or bleeding;
• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• if you feel very thirsty or hot, are unable to urinate, and have heavy sweating or hot and dry skin;
• symptoms of stomach bleedingbloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
• high potassiumslow heart rate, weak pulse, muscle weakness, tingly feeling; or
• liver problemsnausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice .

Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

Other side effects of Exedrin

• Belly pain or heartburn.
• Upset stomach.

What About The Other Formulas Of Excedrin

Excedrin® Tension Headache contains acetaminophen and caffeine, and relieves pain in the neck and shoulders associated with tension headaches.7Excedrin® PM Headache contains both painkillers but, of course, leaves out the caffeine .8 It relieves headaches along with the minor aches and pains caused by sleeplessness.

Acetaminophen Elevates The Pain Threshold

Acetaminophen has both pain relieving and fever reducing effects, but minimal anti-inflammatory activity. While the mechanism of action of acetaminophen is complex and not fully understood, it is believed to exert its pain reliving effect in the central nervous system and blocks the production of chemicals that might increase sensitivity to pain. The resulting effect of Acetaminophen is an elevation in the body’s overall pain threshold, so you feel less pain.3

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How To Use Excedrin Extra Strength

See also Warning section.

If you are taking the over-the-counter product to self-treat, read all directions on the product package before taking this medication. If you have any questions, consult your pharmacist. If your doctor has prescribed this medication, take it as directed.

Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor, or follow the product package directions. Drink a full glass of water with this medication unless your doctor directs you otherwise. If you are using the tablet form of this medication, do not lie down for at least 10 minutes after you have taken this drug. If upset stomach occurs, you may take it with food or milk.

The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Do not increase your dose or use this drug more often or for longer than directed. Do not use this product for pain lasting longer than 10 days or fever lasting more than 3 days. Use the smallest effective dose. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

If you are taking this drug “as needed” , remember that pain medications work best if they are used as the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has worsened, the medication may not work as well.

Consult your doctor if your condition persists or worsens .

What Is An Appropriate Strategy For Migraine Pharmacotherapy

There are a number of acute treatment options for migraine. When migraine is mild or moderate, simple analgesics such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents may be sufficient. Caffeine enhances the effectiveness of simple analgesics and may have special benefits in migraine . The addition of a barbiturate increases treatment effects in some patients ; however, these compounds may be associated with an increased risk of sedation, rebound headache, tolerance, or dependence, so use them cautiously. Isometheptene is a simple, safe vasoactive compound that can be used in combination with analgesics to relieve headache. When nausea or vomiting is present, adding an antiemetic/prokinetic agent, such as metoclopramide, may enhance the effectiveness of the simple analgesics.

In addition, there is a category of migraine-specific acute treatments. These include ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, and the triptans.

J.B. Maas, … S.R. Driscoll, in, 2011

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How Should I Use This Medicine

Take this medicine by mouth with a glass of water. Follow the directions on the package or prescription label. You can take this medicine with or without food. If it upsets your stomach, take it with food. Take your medicine at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. While this drug may be prescribed for children as young as 12 years for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

Patients over 65 years old may have a stronger reaction and need a smaller dose.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.

NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

Is Excedrin Being Taken Off The Market

Has Excedrin extra strength been discontinued? We have not discontinued any Excedrin products, including Excedrin Extra Strength. While our large count bottles arent available right now, our 24 count bottles are available for sale and safe to use as directed. Please call us directly at 1-800-468-7746 for more info.

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Theres More Than One Way To Ease Headache Pain Discover How Excedrin Tackles It On All Fronts

When your head hurts, you want to do everything you can to make it stop. But headaches are complexthere are many causes and contributors to the problemand finding a way to ease the pain may require medication that takes a multi-pronged approach.

Excedrin® Extra Strength quiets head pain on three fronts, thanks to a specialized, triple action combination of ingredients.1 The componentsacetaminophen and aspirin, along with caffeine as an amplifierwork together to relieve your headache and let you get on with your life.2 Heres how it works.

Caffeine: A Key Ingredient To The Excedrin List

You may have heard that caffeine can cause or exacerbate headaches, and if so, youre probably wondering why theres caffeine in most Excedrin products.

Its true that caffeine can be a headache trigger in certain situations, but thats far from the full story.

Caffeine is referred to as an analgesic adjuvant. This means that it helps to boost the effects of certain pain relievers. In the case of Excedrin, caffeine boosts the pain-relieving effects of aspirin and acetaminophen making these medicines up to 40% more effective.

Thats why youll find caffeine in almost all Excedrin products. Only Excedrin PM Headache does not contain caffeine, as caffeine consumed too close to bedtime can keep you from getting a good nights sleep.

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What Are The Side Effects Of Excedrin

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

In rare cases, acetaminophen may cause a severe skin reaction that can be fatal. This could occur even if you have taken acetaminophen in the past and had no reaction. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling. If you have this type of reaction, you should never again take any medicine that contains acetaminophen.

Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe anxiety, agitation, confusion, panic;
• easy bruising or bleeding;
• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• dehydration symptoms–feeling very thirsty or hot, being unable to urinate, heavy sweating, or hot and dry skin;
• symptoms of stomach bleeding–bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
• high potassium–nausea, weakness, tingly feeling, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, loss of movement; or
• liver problems–nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice .

Common side effects may include:

• upset stomach, heartburn;
• depressed mood, feeling anxious or restless; or
• sleep problems .

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What Happens If I Overdose On Excedrin

Early signs of acetaminophen overdose include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, sweating, or weakness. Later symptoms may include upper stomach pain, dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or eyes.

Overdose symptoms may also include ringing in your ears, headache, diarrhea, hallucinations, fast or slow heart rate, or seizure .

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What Drugs And Food Should I Avoid While Taking Excedrin

Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your risk of liver damage or stomach bleeding.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using other medicines for pain, fever, swelling, or cold/flu symptoms. They may contain ingredients similar to acetaminophen or aspirin .

Avoid coffee, tea, cola, energy drinks or other sources of caffeine while taking this medication. They can add to the side effects of the caffeine in the medication.

What Is The Most Important Information I Should Know About Excedrin

Do not give this medicine to a child or teenager with a fever, flu symptoms, or chicken pox. Aspirin can cause Reye’s syndrome, a serious and sometimes fatal condition in children.

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to acetaminophen , aspirin, caffeine, or any NSAIDs .

Aspirin may cause stomach or intestinal bleeding, which can be fatal. These conditions can occur without warning while you are taking this medicine.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist if this medicine is safe to use if you have ever had:

• liver disease, cirrhosis, a history of alcoholism, or if you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day;
• asthma or seasonal allergies;

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What Are Some Other Side Effects Of This Drug

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Stomach pain or heartburn.
• Upset stomach.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Frequency not reported: Hepatotoxicity, cholestatic hepatitis, aminotransferase elevations

What Should I Tell My Health Care Provider Before I Take This Medicine

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• anemia
• child with chickenpox, the flu, or other viral infection
• diabetes
• if you often drink alcohol
• kidney disease
• low level of vitamin K
• lupus
• stomach ulcers or other problems
• trouble sleeping
• an unusual or allergic reaction to acetaminophen, aspirin, caffeine, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

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Excedrin Extra Strength Warnings/precautions:

Reye’s syndrome. Persistent or unresponsive headache. Hypertension. Cardiovascular disease. Asthma. Peptic ulcer. GI bleeding disorders. Liver cirrhosis. Hepatic or renal impairment. Discontinue if signs/symptoms of GI bleed, tinnitus, loss of hearing, or new symptoms occur. Reevaluate if pain worsens or persists for >10 days or if fever worsens or persists for >3 days. Elderly . Pregnancy. Nursing mothers.

How Well Does Excedrin Migraine Work

In three double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled studies with 1220 participants, researchers assessed the effectiveness of the OTC combination of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine in alleviating moderate-to-severe migraine headache pain.

Participants took 2 tablets of the OTC acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine or a placebo as a one-time dose for treatment of one migraine attack.

Results showed a significantly greater reduction in migraine pain intensity 1 to 6 hours after the OTC acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine dose than placebo in all three studies.

• Pain was reduced to mild or none 2 hours after the dose in over 59% of those taking acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine compared to about 33% of placebo-treated patients.
• At 6 hours after the dose, 79% receiving acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine had pain reduced to mild or none vs. 52% in the placebo group, and 51% of the drug-treated patients were pain free .
• Symptoms of nausea, photophobia , phonophobia and functional disability were improved 2 to 6 hours after treatment.

Excedrin Migraine is associated with warnings and side effects, some of which may be severe.

These include:

• headache rebound due to medication overuse
• caffeine overuse

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How Long Does Excedrin Migraine Last And How Often Can I Take It

Migraine attacks can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours, with symptoms and duration varying person to person. In three studies, the combination of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine significantly reduced migraine pain intensity compared to placebo 1 to 6 hours after taking the dose. The combination reduced pain to mild or none for 59.3% of participants at 2 hours and 79% of participants at 6 hours .;;

As far as frequency, you should not take more than 2 caplets or gel tabs within a 24-hour period. Talk to your provider If your symptoms persist or worsen.;;

Excedrin Extra Strength Pain Reliever Acetaminophen Aspirin

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How Much Caffeine In Excedrin

• Excedrin Migraine: Acetaminophen 250mg + Caffeine 65 mg + Aspirin 250mg
• Excedrin Tension Headache: Acetaminophen 500mg + Caffeine 65 mg
• Excedrin Extra Strength: Acetaminophen 250 mg + Caffeine 65 mg + Aspirin 250 mg

In comparison a typical 8 ounce serving of brewed coffee contains at least 95-100mg of caffeine.

If youre pregnant, limit the amount of caffeine you have to 200 milligrams a day. This is about the same as 2 x;8 ounce of instant coffee.

High levels of caffeine in pregnancy can result in babies having a low birthweight, which can increase the risk of health problems in later life. Too much caffeine can also cause a miscarriage.

If Theyre The Same Medication Why Can I Only Take 2 Tablets Of Excedrin Migraine But I Can Take 8 Tablets Of Excedrin Extra Strength

Combination pain relievers used to treat migraines, like Excedrin Migraine, can cause medication overuse headaches, also known as rebound headaches. If you frequently take a pain reliever for migraines and/or exceed the recommended daily dosage, you can get a medication overuse headache once the pain relief wears off, prompting you to take even more medication. Over time, this can lead to shorter periods of pain relief and recurrent chronic headaches. The dosage recommendation for Excedrin Migraine is to help prevent this from happening.

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What Are The Acute Treatment Options For Episodic Tension

TTH can be treated with simple over-the-counter analgesics such as aspirin, acetaminophen , ibuprofen , naproxen sodium , and ketoprofen . OTC combination products that contain caffeine provide a useful alternative. Clinical trials demonstrate that the addition of caffeine to a simple analgesic significantly increases pain relief. This effect is referred to as the analgesic adjuvancy action of caffeine.

When OTC medications do not provide adequate relief, prescription drugs can be tried. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents such as naproxen sodium , 550 mg, or diflunisal , 500 mg, may succeed when OTC NSAIDs could not. Isometheptene-containing capsules are useful and produce few side effects. The butalbital-containing and caffeine-containing products are effective. Minor opioids, including codeine combinations , are also effective. Transnasal narcotics are useful for severe TTHs refractory to other treatments; one must be concerned with the potential for overuse of these types of agents. In general, acute medications should not be used more than 2 or at most 3 days per week to avoid rebound headaches.

T. Mollayeva, C.M. Shapiro, in, 2013

These Two Pain Relievers May Be Similar But Excedrin Has A Powerful Combination Not Found In Tylenol

When a headache begins, it can disrupt your whole day if you dont treat it, but Excedrin Extra Strength starts to work in 15 minutes for some.

Clinical studies have demonstrated that Excedrin Extra Strength relieves headaches better than Tylenol® Extra Strength.1 Both Excedrin Extra Strength and Tylenol® Extra Strength include acetaminophen, an analgesic that relieves pain and reduces fever. But Excedrin Extra Strength contains two additional active ingredients, aspirin and caffeine.

Aspirin targets pain by blocking the production of pain signaling chemicals called prostaglandins. Caffeine is referred to as an analgesic adjuvant. This means it helps boost the effects for certain pain relievers. In the case of Excedrin, caffeine boosts the effects of aspirin and acetaminophen making those medications up to 40% more effective.2,3,4

See the chart below for a breakdown of Excedrin Extra Strength vs. Tylenol® Extra Strength.

References:;

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