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

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Drug information

• Excedrin Migraine

Related support groups

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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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Excedrin Migraine vs Extra Strength: Difference & Comparison

Migraine is a medical condition in which the sufferer has a headache that usually affects one side of the head and causes extreme pain or worsening pain.

Health Quiz

Test your knowledge on health-related topics

1 / 10

What is the role of vitamin C in the body?

Supports healthy skin

Helps with iron absorption

Supports immune function

All of the above

2 / 10

What is the main cause of male infertility?

Poor diet

smoking

Lack of physical activity

Low sperm count

3 / 10

Which type of arthritis is most common?

Rheumatoid arthritis

osteoarthritis

Psoriatic arthritis

gout

4 / 10

What is the main cause of type 2 diabetes?

Heredity

Poor nutrition

Lack of physical activity

Stress

5 / 10

Which of the following diseases is caused by dog ​​bites?

Scurvy

insanity

Rabies

Colorblindness

6 / 10

What is the best way to improve mental health?

MEDITATION

Talk to someone about your feelings

Physical activity

Spending time alone

7 / 10

Which of the following is NOT a symptom of a cold?

Sore throat

Runny nose

Upset stomach

Cough

8 / 10

What is the recommended daily dose of vitamin D for an adult?

400 IU

600 IU

800 IU

1000 IU

9 / 10

What is the leading cause of death worldwide?

cancer

Heart disease

Stroke

Traffic accidents

10 / 10

What is the best way to prevent the spread of germs?

Coughing into your hand

Coughing into your sleeve

Frequent use of hand sanitizer

Do not cover your mouth when coughing

your bill

This is usually associated with nausea, diarrhea and excessive visual and hearing new reactivity. Migraine flares can last from minutes to weeks, and the suffering can be severe enough to prevent someone from doing their daily activities.

To get relief from this, Excedrin Migraine and Extra Strength are on the market,

Key Findings

1. Excedrin Migraine is designed specifically for migraine while Excedrin Extra Strength is designed to relieve various types of pain.
2. Both drugs contain acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine, but Excedrin Migraine has a different FDA-approved dosage for migraine relief.
3. Users may take higher doses of Excedrin Extra Strength for general pain relief, but must follow the recommended dosage of Excedrin Migraine to avoid possible side effects.

The difference between Excedrin Migraine and Extra Strength is that Excedrin Migraine contains ingredients in the formula that are not in Extra Strength. Three ingredients: caffeine, acetaminophen, and aspirin. Three ingredients work great for migraines and thus, this makes Excedrin Migraine different from Extra Strength.

Excedrin Migraine is said to be very effective. A survey report of various patients with migraine showed that Excedrin Migraine can eliminate 100% of the effect of migraine after a dose.

With that said, Excedrin is reported to have the side effects of a slight increase in heart rate.

The dosage of Extra Strength is a bit light. Up to 4 tablets can be consumed in one day. But such a dose can make a person weak or even cause nausea.

Although Extra Strength contains several ingredients, it does not contain the 3 main ingredients that have good anti-migraine properties.

Three ingredients: caffeine, acetaminophen, and aspirin. Extra Strength is best for mild migraines.

901 77

Comparison parameters	Excedrin Migraine	Extra Strength
Date of entry into the market.	It was released to the market in 1998.	It was released to the market in 1960.
dosage	Maximum intake of this 2 times a day.	Maximum intake of this 4 times a day.
Ingredients:	Caffeine is present in the formula along with acetaminophen, aspirin.	Free from acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine.
Migraine types	It is best for severe headaches as it is more powerful.	It is suitable for mild headaches.
Side effect	Excedrin has reported a slight increase in heart rate in some patients.	No side effects of increased heart rate reported.

What is Excedrin for migraine?

Excedrin Migraine was released to the market in 1998 after Excedrin received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to release it as a commercial product.

Excedrin Migraine is said to be very effective. A survey report of various patients with migraine showed that Excedrin Migraine can eliminate 100% of the effect of migraine after a dose.

Excedrin has been reported to have side effects of a slight increase in heart rate, but with time and low drug intake, some other additional side effects appear, such as kidney and liver damage.

Excedrin Migraine is made up of three different ingredients that work very well for migraines. The three ingredients are acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine.

Caffeine has a long history as a migraine remedy, so the caffeine in Excedrin Migraine enhances the effectiveness of the product.

However, very few users may also report stomach problems after using Excedrin Migraine. The dosage of Excedrin is such that only 2 of them can be consumed in one day.

If you continue taking the drug for more than a week, you may experience signs of side effects.

Extra Strength is the first launch of Excedrin. It was launched on the market in 1960. It is one of the oldest on the market.

Extra Strength was one of the oldest products with multiple ingredients. Extra Strength can cure over 50% of migraine pain, but cannot eliminate 100% of the pain.

The dosage of Extra Strength is a bit light. Up to 4 tablets can be consumed in one day. But such a dose can make a person weak or even cause nausea.

Although Extra Strength contains several ingredients, it does not contain the 3 main ingredients that have good anti-migraine properties.

Three ingredients – caffeine, acetaminophen and aspirin. Extra Strength is best for mild migraine pain. There have been no reports of immediate side effects from Extra Strength such as increased heart rate.

The only possible explanation for the high dose limit would be that people with long-term headaches would actually take medication at any time and at any dose, minimizing the effect of the medication.

Main differences between Excedrin Migraine and Extra Strength

1. Excedrin Migraine was launched on the market in 1998 and Extra Strength was launched on the market in 1960.
2. The maximum intake of Excedrin Migraine is 2 times a day, while the maximum intake of Extra Strength is 4 times a day.
3. Excedrin has reported an increase in heart rate in some patients, while side effects of increased heart rate for Extra Strength have not been reported.
4. Excedrin Migraine is best for severe headaches because it is more powerful, while Extra Strength is good for mild headaches.
5. Caffeine is present in the Excedrin Migraine formula along with acetaminophen and aspirin, while acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine are not present in the Extra Strength formula.

Recommendations

1. https://www.theneighborhoodacademy.org/editoruploads/files/Kamiya_Coles_-_Caffeine_in_Headache_Medicine.pdf
2. https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/ migraine-its-recognition-and- treatment?utm_source=TrendMD&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=US_Pharmacist_TrendMD_1

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