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Excedrin Migraine is an over-the-counter pain relief medication. It’s mainly used to treat pain due to migraine headaches. Here’s what you need to know about how Excedrin Migraine works and how to use it safely. Learn the difference: Migraine vs. headache » Excedrin Migraine is a combination medication. It contains three different drugs: acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine. These drugs work in different ways to help relieve your migraine pain. AcetaminophenAcetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer. How it works exactly is not known. We do know that it works mainly in the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. Acetaminophen increases the amount of pain your body can tolerate by reducing the amount of prostaglandins it produces. A prostaglandin is a substance that’s linked with pain. AspirinAspirin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It reduces pain and inflammation, which includes swelling and irritation. Aspirin also reduces the amount of prostaglandins the body produces, but differently from how acetaminophen does. CaffeineCaffeine is not a pain reliever. Rather, it’s a vasoconstrictor. That means it makes blood vessels narrower. In Excedrin Migraine, caffeine works to narrow blood vessels in your brain. This decreases the amount of blood that can flow through the blood vessels at one time. This action helps combat headaches, which happen when blood vessels widen. Caffeine also helps relieve a headache if it’s caused by caffeine withdrawal. Check out the interactive infographic: 14 common migraine triggers » Excedrin Migraine comes as a caplet you take by mouth. Each caplet contains 250 mg acetaminophen, 250 mg aspirin, and 65 mg caffeine. The recommended dosage is listed below by age. You can also find this dosage information on the product’s packaging. Adults 18 years and olderTake two caplets with a glass of water. The maximum dosage is two caplets in any 24-hour period. Children and teens younger than 18 yearsTalk with your child’s doctor before giving your child Excedrin Migraine. Because it contains aspirin, you should be very careful when giving Excedrin Migraine to children and teens. This is because aspirin is linked with Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious illness. Never give products that contain aspirin to a child younger than 12 years. And don’t give aspirin to a teen if they’re recovering from a viral disease such as chicken pox or the flu. Learn more: Treating migraines and severe migraines » Each of the three drugs in Excedrin Migraine can cause some side effects. Some effects may go away as your body becomes used to the medication. But if any of the common side effects cause problems for you or don’t go away, call your doctor. And if you have any of the serious side effects, call your doctor or 9-1-1 right away. Common side effectsThe more common side effects of Excedrin Migraine can be caused by the caffeine that’s in it. These side effects can include:
Serious side effectsThe serious side effects of Excedrin Migraine can be caused by the acetaminophen and aspirin it contains. These side effects can include:
If you take medication in addition to Excedrin Migraine, it may cause drug interactions. Interactions can increase or decrease the effect of Excedrin Migraine or your other medications. They can also increase your risk of side effects. Be sure to talk with your doctor before taking Excedrin Migraine if you use any of the following medications:
Excedrin Migraine is safe for most people, but it should be used carefully. Some people should avoid it completely. The following warnings can help keep you safe. Conditions of concernIf you have any of the following conditions, ask your doctor if it’s safe for you to use Excedrin Migraine. This medication may make the following conditions worse:
Liver damageAcetaminophen, one of the drugs in Excedrin Migraine, can cause severe liver damage. You have a higher risk of liver damage if you take Excedrin Migraine and do any of the following:
Stomach bleedingAspirin can cause severe stomach bleeding. You have a higher risk of stomach bleeding if you:
In case of overdose Be sure to follow dosage instructions carefully to avoid the risk of overdose. Symptoms of an overdose of Excedrin Migraine can include:
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, talk with your doctor before taking Excedrin Migraine. PregnancyAsk your doctor if it’s safe for you to take Excedrin Migraine during the first two trimesters of your pregnancy. You should not use Excedrin Migraine during the last trimester (three months) of pregnancy, as it may harm your pregnancy. This is because Excedrin Migraine contains aspirin. Using regular-strength aspirin often in the third trimester can cause a serious birth defect of your baby’s heart. BreastfeedingBe sure to talk with your doctor before using this drug while breastfeeding. Acetaminophen, one of the active ingredients in Excedrin Migraine, is safe for use while breastfeeding. However, the aspirin in Excedrin Migraine can pass into breast milk. Regular-strength aspirin, which is the kind contained in Excedrin Migraine, may cause rash, bleeding, and other problems in a child who is breastfed. The information in this article can help you take Excedrin Migraine safely. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
If you have more questions about Excedrin Migraine, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. How long after Excedrin can you breastfeed?Drugs to relieve headache, aches, pain or fever
Try not to breastfeed for 1 to 2 hours after taking the dose to minimise the amount in your breastmilk.
What happens if you take Excedrin while breastfeeding?Acetaminophen, one of the active ingredients in Excedrin Migraine, is safe for use while breastfeeding.
How long does it take for aspirin to leave breast milk?Two women given aspirin 454 mg orally had peak salicylate milk levels of about 1 mg/L at 1 hour after the dose. The authors estimated that about 0.1% of the mothers' total dose would appear in breastmilk in 48 hours. [8] However, salicylate metabolites were not measured in milk.
Can you take migraine medicine while breastfeeding?Many commonly used migraine medications may be compatible with breast-feeding based on expert recommendations. Ibuprofen, diclofenac, and eletriptan are among acute medications with low levels in breast milk, but studies of triptans are limited.
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