Excedrin

Excedrin

Generic Name: acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine (ah SEET a MIN oh fen, ASP i rin, and KAF een)

Brand Names: Anacin Advanced Headache Formula, Excedrin, Genace, Goodys Extra Strength, Goodys Headache Powders

What is Excedrin?

Excedrin contains a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine. Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and a fever reducer. Aspirin is in a group of drugs called salicylates (sa-LIS-il-ates). It works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain, fever, and inflammation. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. It relaxes muscle contractions in blood vessels to improve blood flow.

Excedrin is used to treat pain caused by tension headaches, migraine headaches, muscle aches, menstrual cramps, arthritis, toothaches, the common cold, or nasal congestion.

Aspirin should be used for cardiovascular conditions only under the supervision of a doctor.

Excedrin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Excedrin

Excedrin should not be given to a child or teenager who has a fever, especially if the child also has flu symptoms or chicken pox. The aspirin found in Excedrin can cause a serious and sometimes fatal condition called Reye's syndrome in children. You should not use Excedrin if you are allergic to acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, or caffeine, or if you have liver disease, stomach or intestinal bleeding, a history of asthma or severe allergic reaction to aspirin or an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug).

Do not use Excedrin without first talking to your doctor if you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day or if you have had alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis). You may not be able to use acetaminophen.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist about using Excedrin if you have asthma or seasonal allergies, fever with a stiff neck, a stomach ulcer or pain, heartburn, a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, diabetes, or gout.

Do not use more Excedrin than is recommended. An overdose of acetaminophen can cause serious harm. The maximum amount of acetaminophen for adults is 1 gram (1000 mg) per dose and 4 grams (4000 mg) per day.

Stop using Excedrin and call your doctor at once if you have any symptoms of liver damage or bleeding in your stomach or intestines. Symptoms of liver damage include nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Symptoms of stomach bleeding include weakness or fainting, bloody or tarry stools, and coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking Excedrin. Alcohol may increase your risk of stomach bleeding while taking aspirin, or liver damage while taking acetaminophen. Do not use any other over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, pain, menstrual symptom, or fever medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as "APAP"), aspirin, and caffeine are contained in many combination medicines. If you use certain products together you may accidentally use too much of a certain drug.

Before taking Excedrin

Excedrin should not be given to a child or teenager who has a fever, especially if the child also has flu symptoms or chicken pox. Aspirin in this medicine can cause a serious and sometimes fatal condition called Reye's syndrome in children. You should not use Excedrin if you are allergic to acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, or caffeine, or if you have:

a recent history of stomach or intestinal bleeding;

liver disease;

asthma or severe allergic reaction caused by taking aspirin or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), especially "aspirin triad syndrome"; or

if you are allergic to an NSAID such as Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Orudis, Indocin, Lodine, Voltaren, Toradol, Mobic, Relafen, Feldene, and others.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take Excedrin if you have:

asthma or seasonal allergies;

fever with a stiff neck;

a stomach ulcer, heartburn, or stomach pain;

a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia;

diabetes; or

gout.

If you take Excedrin to treat headache pain, seek medical attention if you have:

a headache so bad you have to lie down;

a headache that causes vomiting;

what feels like the worst headache you've ever had;

a headache that seems different from your usual headaches;

a headache every day;

a headache after coughing, bending, exercising, or head injury;

if you have never had migraines diagnosed by a doctor; or

if you are having your first headache after age 50.

Aspirin may be harmful to an unborn baby's heart, and may also reduce birth weight or have other dangerous effects. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while you are taking Excedrin. Aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take Excedrin?

Use Excedrin exactly as directed on the label, or as it has been prescribed by your doctor. Do not use the medication in larger or smaller amounts, or use it for longer than recommended.

Do not use more Excedrin than is recommended. An overdose of acetaminophen can cause serious harm. The maximum amount for adults is 1 gram (1000 mg) per dose and 4 grams (4000 mg) per day. Using more acetaminophen could cause damage to your liver.

If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day, talk to your doctor before taking acetaminophen and never use more than 2 grams (2000 mg) per day.

Take Excedrin with a full glass of water. Take the medicine with food or milk if it makes your stomach upset. Stop using Excedrin and call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse while taking this medication.

Acetaminophen can cause false results with some urine glucose tests. Talk to your doctor if you are diabetic and you notice changes in your glucose levels while taking this medication.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking aspirin. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Store Excedrin at room temperature away from heat and moisture.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since Excedrin is often used only when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are using the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

The first signs of an acetaminophen overdose include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, sweating, and confusion or weakness. Later symptoms may include pain in your upper stomach, dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.

An overdose of Excedrin can also cause ringing in your ears, headache, diarrhea, dizziness, restlessness, hallucinations, fast or slow heart rate, or seizure (convulsions).

What should I avoid while taking Excedrin?

Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking Excedrin. Alcohol may increase your risk of stomach bleeding while taking aspirin, or liver damage while taking acetaminophen. Do not use any other cough, cold, allergy, pain, menstrual symptom, or fever medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as "APAP", aspirin, and caffeine are contained in many combination medicines. If you use certain products together you may accidentally use too much of a certain drug. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains acetaminophen, APAP, aspirin, or caffeine.

Avoid taking an NSAID such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Voltaren), diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), ketorolac (Toradol), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), and others.

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 this medication.

Excedrin 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. Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

weakness or fainting;

black, bloody, or tarry stools;

coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;

severe nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain;

redness or swelling;

low fever with nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

fever lasting longer than 3 days;

pain lasting longer than 10 days; or

hearing problems, ringing in your ears.

Less serious Excedrin side effects may include:

upset stomach, heartburn;

feeling nervous or excited; or

sleep problems (insomnia).

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.

See also: Excedrin side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Excedrin?

Tell your doctor if you are taking an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or venlafaxine (Effexor). Taking any of these drugs with aspirin may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.

Before taking Excedrin, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);

salicylates such as aspirin, Backache Relief Extra Strength, Novasal, Nuprin Backache Caplet, Doan's Pills Extra Strength, Tricosal, and others; or

medication used to prevent blood clots, such as alteplase (Activase), clopidogrel (Plavix), dipyridamole (Persantine), ticlopidine (Ticlid), and urokinase (Abbokinase).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Excedrin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

More Excedrin resources

Excedrin Side Effects (in More Detail)

Excedrin Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Excedrin Drug Interactions

Excedrin Support Group

8 Reviews for Excedrin - Add your own review/rating

Excedrin MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Compare Excedrin with other medications

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Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Excedrin.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.

Copyright 1996-2010 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 3.01. Revision Date: 11/19/2009 2:34:59 PM.