How often can you take Excedrin Migraine?

Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on Jan 31, 2023.

The usual adult dose for Excedrin Migraine is 2 caplets with a glass of water. Do not take more than 2 caplets in a 24 hour period, unless directed by your doctor.

Excedrin Migraine contains 250 mg of acetaminophen, 250 mg of aspirin (an NSAID), and 65 mg of caffeine per caplet or geltab. Taking more than 2 caplets in 24 hours may cause an overdose of acetaminophen, especially if you are using other medicines that contain acetaminophen. Taking too much acetaminophen may damage your liver or cause death. In case of an overdose, get medical help right away or contact a poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.

Before you use Excedrin Migraine, you should review the full Drug Facts label product information on the bottle. If your migraine headache symptoms persist or worsen, contact your doctor.

Excedrin Migraine is not for use in children. For patients under 18 years of age, ask your doctor. Do not give Excedrin Migraine 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.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your doctor before using Excedrin Migraine.

Why does Excedrin Migraine contain caffeine?

Excedrin Migraine is an analgesic combination over-the-counter (OTC) medication used to treat migraine headaches. It contains 250 mg of acetaminophen, 250 mg of aspirin (an NSAID), and 65 mg of caffeine per caplet or geltab. In this product, aspirin and acetaminophen are headache pain relievers and caffeine helps to enhance the pain-relieving effect of these 2 medicines.

Excedrin Migraine does not require a prescription.

Why was Excedrin Migraine recalled?

In October 2020, certain products and lots of Excedrin products were recalled by GSK Consumer Healthcare due to the possibility of holes in the bottom of bottles supplied by a bottle manufacturer. No Excedrin products were permanently discontinued, including Excedrin Migraine.

The Excedrin products that were impacted in the recall included specific lots and bottle sizes of:

• Excedrin Migraine Caplets or Geltabs
• Excedrin Extra Strength Caplets
• Excedrin PM Headache Caplets
• Excedrin Tension Headache Caplets

Bottle sizes included in the recall were the 50, 80, 100, 125, 200, 250 and 300-count bottles.

Products NOT impacted in the recall include the 24-count bottles of Excedrin Extra Strength caplets and the 24-count bottles of Excedrin Migraine caplets and geltabs. Excedrin Migraine is typically available in pharmacies, grocery stores and other retail outlets in the U.S.

GSK Consumer Health recommends that consumers should immediately inspect their Excedrin bottle for holes.

• If a hole is found, consumers should discontinue use but retain the bottle and contact GSK. GSK will retrieve the product and issue a refund.
• If no hole is found, consumers may continue to use the drug as directed.
• You can contact GSK Consumer Healthcare at 1-800-468-7746 (M-F, 8AM – 6PM) for more information.

Related: Comparing Excedrin vs Excedrin Migraine

This is not all the information you need to know about Excedrin Migraine for safe and effective use. Review the full Excedrin Migraine information here, and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

References

• Excedrin Products: Ingredients and Dosage. GSK Consumer Healthcare. Accessed Feb. 10, 2021 at https://www.excedrin.com/dosage-ingredients-chart/
• Excedrin Migraine (acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine) monograph. Drugs.com. Accessed Feb. 10, 2021 at https://www.drugs.com/excedrin-migraine.html
• Temporarily out of stock or recalled Excedrin products. GSK Consumer Healthcare. Accessed Feb. 10, 2021 at https://www. excedrin.com/products/discontinued/

Related medical questions

• Can you take ibuprofen with Excedrin Migraine?
• Can you take Excedrin Migraine while pregnant?
• How long does it take for Excedrin Migraine to work?
• How much caffeine is in Excedrin Migraine?
• Does caffeine help migraines?
• What are the side effects of beta blockers?
• What are the side effects of the flu vaccine?
• Why does throwing up relieve migraines?
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Drug information

• Excedrin Migraine

Related support groups

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  (15 questions, 17 members)
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Medical Disclaimer

Excedrin Ingredients and Dosage Information

Learn more about the pain-fighting ingredients in Excedrin® pain relief products, as well as Head Care* ingredients and suggested use.

INGREDIENTS & DOSAGE GUIDELINES

Select one to see the ingredients and dosage guidelines. All Excedrin products should be taken with a full glass of water.

• Excedrin Headache & Migraine Relief: Ingredients & Dosage Guidelines

  Aspirin

  Acetaminophen

  Caffeine

  Has been a go-to for all types of pain for decades, including headache and migraines.

  Is a powerful ingredient for pain relief, and is tough when fighting headaches.

  Enhances pain-relieving function of aspirin and acetaminophen.

  Use only as directed. Read all warnings and product information prior to use. Always follow label directions

• Head Care Proactive Health Ingredients & Supplement Facts*

  Magnesium

  Riboflavin

  Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12

  Essential nutrient that helps support blood flow in the brain for head comfort.

  Read all warnings and product information prior to use. Always follow label directions.

HOW THE ACTIVE INGREDIENTS IN EXCEDRIN HEADACHE & MIGRAINE RELIEF WORK TOGETHER TO STOP HEADACHES

Evidence suggests that the use of combination analgesics such as Excedrin offer advantages in the treatment of headaches by targeting pain in more than one way.^[3]

Excedrin’s specialized formula contains two pain relievers (acetaminophen and aspirin) plus an amplifier (caffeine) that work together to target head pain.   Aspirin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug or NSAID.  Aspirin helps to block the production of pain signaling chemicals called prostaglandins.  The way in which acetaminophen works is still not well understood.  However, it is believed to elevate the pain threshold. This allows you to tolerate more pain, therefore providing pain relief. Finally, caffeine has been shown to increase the potency of aspirin and acetaminophen by up to 40 percent. This means less acetaminophen and aspirin is needed to relieve your migraine pain when combined with caffeine^.[3,4,5]

Acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine, when taken as directed, provide clinically proven headache relief. Excedrin is a combination of these ingredients: two pain relievers, plus an amplifier to enhance the analgesic effect.

Acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol, should not be taken with other medicines that also contain acetaminophen.  Acetaminophen is contained in many medicines to treat pain, fever, symptoms of cold and flu, and sleep medicines.  Do not take more than recommended dose, as this may be harmful, including serious harm to your liver.  If you have liver or kidney disease, talk to your doctor before taking acetaminophen.​

EXTRA STRENGTH

MIGRAINE

TENSION HEADACHE

PM HEADACHE

Contains Acetaminophen

(250 mg per tablet)

(250 mg per tablet)

(500 mg per tablet)

(250 mg per tablet)

Contains Aspirin

(250 mg per tablet)

(250 mg per tablet)

(250 mg per tablet)

Contains Caffeine

(65 mg per tablet)

(65 mg per tablet)

(65 mg per tablet)

Contains Diphenhydramine (Sleep Aid)

(38 mg per tablet)

12 Years & Older

18 Years & Older

12 Years & Older

12 Years & Older

2 Every 6 Hours

(Max.

Contains Electrolytes

Contains Caffeine

Contains Melatonin

18 Years or Older

18 Years or Older

18 Years or Older

Frequency

1 tablet per day

Limit 2 packets per day

Limit 1 packet per day

Available in Tablets

Available as a Powder

CAFFEINE: A KEY INGREDIENT TO THE EXCEDRIN LIST

You may have heard that caffeine can cause or exacerbate headaches, and if so, you’re probably wondering why there’s caffeine in most Excedrin pain relief products.

It’s true that caffeine can be a headache trigger in certain situations, but that’s 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 pain relief products, caffeine boosts the pain-relieving effects of aspirin and acetaminophen – making these medicines up to 40% more effective.

That’s why you’ll find caffeine in almost all Excedrin pain relief products. As compared to falling asleep without melatonin. Melatonin helps you fall asleep and is for occasional sleepiness.* ^†Magnesium helps support proper blood flow to the brain.*

FIND THE EXCEDRIN PRODUCT THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU

Excedrin has been a leader in headache relief for more than 50 years, and the range of Excedrin products contains something for every kind of headache, including tension headaches, nighttime headaches and migraines.

Discover the full Excedrin product range here, or, if you need more help finding the right product for you, try our interactive product selector.

Sources:

1. American Migraine Foundation. Understanding Caffeine Headaches. https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/understanding-caffeine-headaches/. Accessed November 27, 2019. Referenced text is highlighted in source PDF.
2. Caffeine in the management of patients with headache. NCBI. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5655397/. Accessed 10/12/19.WebMD. The Link Between Caffeine and Headac
3. Combined analgesics in (headache) pain therapy: shotgun approach or precise multi-target therapeutics?. Straube et al. BMC Neurologly. https://bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2377-11-43. Accessed 20/03/20
4. How Do Pain Relievers Work? Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsallchildrens.org/Patients-Families/Health-Library/HealthDocNew/How-Do-Pain-Relievers-Work. Accessed 31/03/20.
5. Aspirin and Migraine. National Headache Foundation. https://headaches.org/2007/10/25/aspirin-and-migraine/. Accessed 31/03/20.

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How to quickly bring down the temperature at home: folk remedies, medicines, tips

Fever is a natural reaction that indicates that the body is fighting infection. Today we will tell you whether it is necessary to shoot it down, what temperature is dangerous and how to deal with it.

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Fever is a typical manifestation of many diseases. Having noticed this symptom, we begin to draw conclusions whether a person is sick or not. But fighting it is not the same as recovering. Therefore, it is important to determine what caused the increase and treat the disease. And antipyretic therapy is not recommended in all cases. Today we will tell you how you can quickly bring down the temperature and what indicators are considered dangerous.

Do not self-medicate! In our articles, we collect the latest scientific data and the opinions of authoritative health experts. But remember: only a doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment.

In the off-season, people are prone to colds. And where there is a cold, there is a fever. The medical community says that the temperature should be brought down if it is above 38.5 degrees. But if you feel very bad even at a lower temperature, you don’t need to heroically endure and strengthen yourself, but rather take an antipyretic. In this material, we have collected proven medical and folk methods that will tell you what to do if the temperature rises.

How to quickly bring down the temperature yourself

First of all, we hasten to warn you. It’s not worth guessing for a long time how to quickly bring down the temperature of 40 degrees in an adult is not worth it. Definitely don’t try to treat yourself. Call an ambulance immediately, because home remedies are powerless and even dangerous here. Such indicators lead to disruption of the internal organs, dehydration and serious changes in the nervous system. If the temperature is lower, take the following measures:

• Lie down and get as much rest as possible.
• Wear light clothing that does not interfere with perspiration and cover yourself with a thin blanket or sheet. Also make sure that fresh air enters the room, and the temperature in the room does not exceed 22 degrees.
• How to bring down a high temperature quickly? Drink more liquid. For example, water, herbal or ginger tea with lemon, berry juice. Since a person sweats a lot at a temperature, the body loses a lot of fluid, and drinking plenty of fluids helps prevent dehydration.
• To quickly reduce the temperature, apply a cool compress to the forehead for about 30 minutes.
• Take an antipyretic that you can find in the medicine cabinet. One of the most proven is paracetamol, which quickly brings down the temperature in an adult – as soon as you drink, mark for thirty minutes. During this time, it should decrease by several divisions.

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How to quickly bring down the temperature in an adult

A pediatrician should tell you how to quickly bring down a high temperature in a child. Many of the methods used for adults are severely restricted for children. Especially folk, and with medicines you should be very careful. Adults, on the other hand, have a large arsenal of tools. We will list them.

First of all, use the algorithm above. If the result is unsatisfactory and it does not get better, try combining two antipyretics. Ibuprofen and paracetamol in the dosage indicated in the instructions for the medicines will help to quickly bring down the high temperature for an adult. It cannot be exceeded. The combination of drugs is effective in reducing fever, but this method should only be used as an emergency.

How to quickly bring down the temperature of 39 in an adult

A temperature above 38 degrees already indicates a potentially dangerous condition. If you are worried about weakness, body aches, headache, you need to know what is acceptable to quickly bring down the temperature in an adult, especially if it approaches 39. Drop prejudices about drug treatment, if you have them. In case of intense heat, it is simply necessary to resort to a first-aid kit at home.

Carefully read the instructions before taking any drug, follow the indicated dosage and intervals of administration. Here is a list of effective antipyretics that are available without a prescription. They quickly help both bring down the temperature at home and alleviate the general condition, relieve headaches.

• Paracetamol (relieves fever in an adult in 20-30 minutes, the main active ingredient of all drugs, but in itself is much cheaper)
• Aspirin (strongly thins the blood, it should not be taken by people with anemia and those who are preparing for surgery
• Ibuprofen (not suitable for patients with ulcers)
• Nimesulide (not suitable for those who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract, blood, liver, as well as children and pregnant women)
• Indomethacin (not suitable for pregnant women and children )
• Citramon (mix of paracetamol, aspirin and caffeine, analgesic)
• Solpadein (reduces fever and relieves pain at the same time)
• Coldact (in tablets 200 g of paracetamol with additives, it is better to take the powder)

900 31 Excedrin (complex preparation, contains paracetamol )

• Novigan (also a complex remedy, but it should not be drunk in large quantities)
• Theraflu (powder, contains a loading dose of paracetamol – from 650 to 1000 mg of paracetamol)
• Rinza or Rinzasip (powder or tablets, 750 mg of paracetamol and excipients)
• Coldrex (750 g of paracetamol, ascorbic acid and other useful things)

Most powders for adults contain from 325 to 1000 mg paracetamol. Do not drink them if you are allergic to the drug! Remember: all medicines have contraindications. Many of them should not be taken by children, at least in adult dosage. If a child has 39, how to quickly bring down the temperature should be advised by a doctor called to the house, and not other mothers from the forums. Also, these drugs are contraindicated in patients with diabetes, pregnant and lactating women. Therefore, it is important to read the instructions every time and strictly follow them, and, of course, do not take any medications without a doctor’s prescription.

How to quickly reduce the temperature without pills

The tips given in this paragraph can help you quickly bring down the temperature when the medicine is not at home or as soon as its values ​​fall below the dangerous level. You can use them if the thermometer shows less than 39 degrees. Following them will make you feel better.

• Cold soaks and rubdowns. Do not use vinegar or alcohol for these purposes!
• A warm shower will help your body get rid of toxins faster.
• Drinking plenty of water also quickly relieves fever: herbal decoctions, compote, fruit drink, weak broth, a solution of berry preparations – everything is warm, not hot and not cold.

Top 3 wrong answers to the question “How to quickly bring down the temperature?”

Many folk recipes for lowering the temperature pass from generation to generation and have survived to this day. Contrary to the persistent faith of people in them, these methods are not only unscientific, but also harmful to the patient.

1. Rubbing with vinegar or alcohol. Surely you have seen examples of this kind on various sites. The child is a year old, and mothers are trying to quickly bring down his temperature in the old fashioned way. Rubbed with alcohol. This procedure, still used in self-treatment, can lead to skin burns or poisoning by alcohol vapors. Especially when it comes to baby’s delicate skin! Are such side effects necessary in addition to the temperature? Hardly!
2. Cold bath. Placing a patient with fever in ice water means creating a temperature difference that is dangerous to health. Sharp vasoconstriction does not bode well.
3. Giving aspirin to a child is a big mistake. This is fraught with serious complications, including damage to the brain and liver.

6 reasons to urgently see a doctor at a high temperature

Fever is considered a normal reaction of the body to illness, injury, as its desire for self-healing is reflected. But sometimes an increase warns of a serious ailment, which is why it is so important to be on the alert.

• The first reason to call a doctor and stop bringing down the temperature on your own, if the fever happened suddenly (within two hours) and the readings are more than 38.5 degrees.
• The second important reason to call an ambulance is a fever accompanied by ringing in the ears, dizziness and nausea. Such symptoms indicate a disruption in the functioning of the cerebral vessels, which can lead to a stroke and other terrible things. Minutes count here.
• Do not hesitate for a long time what to do with a temperature of more than 39 degrees, which lasts longer than eight hours. Call your doctor if you’ve been on medication, you’ve tried to cool down, but it doesn’t fall or keeps growing. Thermometer reading above 39.5 degrees are considered critical, and they say that conventional medicines do not help and the help of specialists is urgently needed.
• The fourth reason to see a doctor with a fever occurs when a person with chronic diseases of the heart or blood vessels of the neck and head has a high temperature. Fever can exacerbate the course of the disease and lead to irreparable complications, such as thrombosis, myocardial infarction, or tachycardia.
• As soon as you notice that the patient starts delirium, hallucinations, convulsions and shortness of breath against the background of high temperature, do not try to lower it for a long time. First of all, call an ambulance and describe the symptoms, and only then try to cool him down.