At least 12% of people suffer from migraine headaches, making them one of the most common At least 12% of the population suffers from migraines, making them the most common neurological disorder. Most migraine sufferers don’t get diagnosed or treated. Research shows 63.7% of people turn to over the counter (OTC) meds for relief. We’ll look at one of the most popular OTC meds for acute migraines here: Excedrin Migraine.
What is Excedrin Migraine?
One OTC for mild to moderate migraines is Excedrin Migraine. It’s a trifecta of meds when used together has been shown to work better.
Three active ingredients in Excedrin Migraine:
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a central nervous system analgesic.
- One non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) is aspirin. It works by blocking the chemicals that cause inflammation and pain.
- One natural stimulant is caffeine. The painkiller and aspirin both have pain-relieving effects that are boosted by caffeine. You get pain relief with fewer doses because of this. It also constricts the blood vessels that dilate during a migraine. This reduces blood flow and reduces pain.
How Long Does Excedrin Stay In Your System?
The length of time different drugs last varies. The length of time a drug stays in your system even after the effects wear off is also subject to this rule. Some drugs can stay in your system for days or even months. Many factors determine how long Excedrin stays in your system, here are some of which:
Type of Excedrin: Several factors including the type of Excedrin you take affect how long it stays in your system. Excedrin has been a pioneer in headache relief for over 50 years. The products in the Excedrin line are different. Excedrin PM is an OTC med that has three ingredients: acetaminophen, aspirin and diphenhydramine. Excedrin Migraine has three ingredients: acetaminophen, aspirin and therapeutically active caffeine. Some meds are completely out of your system in days, others are metabolized faster.
Amount of Drug: The amount of Excedrin you take affects how long it stays in your system. For example, short term use and small doses will be noticeable for a short period of time. But frequent use will have longer detection times.
Drug Half-Life: The half-lives of the ingredients in Excedrin vary. For example, caffeine has a half-life of about 5 hours, diphenhydramine is eliminated in the urine unchanged and has a half-life of 3.4-9.2 hours. After 5 hours, a person who takes 40mg of caffeine will have 20mg left in their system.
What are the side effects of Excedrin Migraine?
Here are some common Excedrin Migraine side effects:
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Vomiting and nausea
- Frequent urination
- Trouble sleeping
Once you stop taking the drug these side effects go away and are not serious.
If you take Excedrin Migraine with food you may vomit less. Since caffeine is a stimulant and will keep you awake you may want to take it not too close to bedtime.
Excedrin Migraine has about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee. Too much caffeine can make you tense and agitated and have trouble sleeping. So while taking this medication you should limit your caffeine intake.
Are there any serious side effects?
Here are some more serious Excedrin Migraine side effects:
- Severe allergic reactions or skin conditions. Motrin and acetaminophen can cause severe allergic reactions or skin side effects. If any of the ingredients in this medication cause an allergy in you do not take it. If you experience breathing difficulties, facial swelling or hives get medical help right away.
- Bleeding. Like other NSAIDs aspirin can cause bleeding. If you experience severe stomach pain, black or bloody stools, or blood in your vomit stop taking the medication and get medical attention right away.
- Liver damage. Your liver can be damaged by acetaminophen. When taking this medication avoid going over the recommended daily dosage, taking extra acetaminophen products and consuming three or more alcoholic beverages per day. If you experience dark urine, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or unexplained stomach pain get in touch with your doctor.
- Loss of hearing or ringing in the ears. This side effect is possible with aspirin and other NSAIDs especially if you take too much of them. When you stop taking the medication it usually goes away.
