Generic name: acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine [ ah-SEET-a-MIN-oh-fen, ASP-i-rin, and-KAF-een ]
Drug class: Analgesic combinations

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Oct 12, 2023.

What is Excedrin Migraine?

Excedrin Migraine 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 Migraine is used to treat pain caused by tension and migraine headaches.

Do not use aspirin for heart or blood vessel conditions unless your doctor tells you to.

Warnings

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.

Do not take more of Excedrin Migraine than is recommended. An overdose of acetaminophen can damage your liver or cause death. Call your doctor at once if you have nausea, pain in your upper stomach, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes).

Aspirin may cause stomach or intestinal bleeding, which can be fatal. Call your doctor at once if you have symptoms such as bloody or tarry stools, or coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

In rare cases, acetaminophen may cause a severe skin reaction. Stop taking Excedrin Migraine and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling.

Before taking this medicine

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.

You should not use Excedrin Migraine if you are allergic to acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, caffeine, or any NSAIDs (Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Orudis, Indocin, Lodine, Voltaren, Toradol, Mobic, Relafen, Feldene, and others).

Aspirin may cause stomach or intestinal bleeding, which can be fatal. These conditions can occur without warning while you are taking Excedrin Migraine.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take Excedrin Migraine if you have other medical conditions, especially:

• liver disease, cirrhosis, a history of alcoholism, or if you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day;

• asthma or seasonal allergies;

• fever with a stiff neck;

• stomach ulcer, stomach or intestinal bleeding, ulcerative colitis;

• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia;

• kidney disease; or

• if you use medicine to treat glaucoma or prevent blood clots.

If you take Excedrin Migraine 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 Migraine.

Aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using Excedrin Migraine.

How should I take Excedrin Migraine?

Take Excedrin Migraine exactly as directed on the label, or as it has been prescribed by your doctor. Do not take more of Excedrin Migraine than is recommended. An overdose of acetaminophen can damage your liver or cause death.

Take Excedrin Migraine with food or milk if it makes your stomach upset.

Adult dosage: take 2 caplets with a glass of water. If symptoms persist or worsen, ask your doctor. Do not take more than 2 caplets in 24 hours, unless directed by a doctor. For patients under 18 years of age, ask your doctor.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days of treatment, or if you have a fever lasting longer than 3 days, or any swelling or pain lasting longer than 10 days.

Excedrin Migraine can cause unusual results with certain lab tests for glucose (sugar) in the urine. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using Excedrin Migraine.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using Excedrin Migraine. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Store Excedrin Migraine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Related/similar drugs

Ubrelvy, aspirin, ibuprofen, amitriptyline, diclofenac, naproxen, propranolol, celecoxib, topiramate, Excedrin

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since Excedrin Migraine is used when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are on a schedule, use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of acetaminophen can damage your liver or cause death.

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.

Overdose symptoms may also include ringing in your ears, headache, diarrhea, hallucinations, fast or slow heart rate, or seizure (convulsions).

What to avoid

Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking Excedrin Migraine. Alcohol may increase your risk of stomach bleeding while taking aspirin, or liver damage while taking acetaminophen.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cough, cold, allergy, pain, menstrual symptom, or fever medication. Acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as APAP) is contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much acetaminophen which can lead to a fatal overdose. Aspirin and caffeine are also contained in many combination medicines. Check the label to see if a medicine contains acetaminophen, APAP, aspirin, or caffeine.

Avoid taking another NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.

Avoid coffee, tea, cola, energy drinks or other sources of caffeine while taking Excedrin Migraine. They can add to the side effects of the caffeine in the medication.

Excedrin Migraine side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Excedrin Migraine: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

In rare cases, acetaminophen may cause a severe skin reaction that can be fatal. This could occur even if you have taken acetaminophen in the past and had no reaction. Stop taking Excedrin Migraine and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling. If you have this type of reaction, you should never again take any medicine that contains acetaminophen.

Stop using Excedrin Migraine and call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe anxiety, agitation, confusion, panic;

• easy bruising or bleeding;

• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

• if you feel very thirsty or hot, are unable to urinate, and have heavy sweating or hot and dry skin;

• symptoms of stomach bleeding - bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;

• high potassium - slow heart rate, weak pulse, muscle weakness, tingly feeling; or

• liver problems - nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common Excedrin Migraine side effects may include:

• upset stomach, heartburn;

• depressed mood, feeling anxious or restless; 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.

What other drugs will affect Excedrin Migraine?

Other drugs may interact with acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.

Date modified: January 03, 2018
Last reviewed: November 19, 2013

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Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Excedrin Migraine only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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