Excedrin

[krause1515]

My husband is addicted to Excedrin.  He now gets diarrhea a few nights a week and when he doesn't take it he says he gets an unbearable headache/migraine.  He says he can't quit because the headache is too unbearable.  So instead he just pops immodium to help the diarrhea.  How can he quit this?

[jimo1109]

I'm a 68 year old male in very good health....except for daily headaches.  I do not drink coke or coffee and drink decaf tea.  I started with Extra Strength Excedren (WM Equate) about 15 years ago from work stress headache at base of skull.  That is where all my headache pain is....very tight muscles at top of shoulders and base of neck..  Do not have any migrane symptoms.  I took daily.  At max, I would take 2 pills 3 x per day.  Retired about 8 yrs ago, but I was already addicted.  Went to Headache Clinic 5 yrs ago and they said it was rebound headache but NO mention of caffine.  By chance I determined it was the caffine. For past few years, been taking about 4 Excedren pills a day....sometimes 1 at a time, sometimes 2.  Last month went back to Clinic and Dr prescribed Elavil to help get me off the Excedren (He told me about it's primary use).  Anyway, I take 20 mg each night.  Within the last month, I have reduced use of Excedren by taking straight caffine pills, generally 300mg total for a day.  For last 3 days, zero excedren and 100 mg caffine 3x per day (one early morning, one around noon and one early evening).   Headaches are generally under control with the 300 mg daily straight caffine.

So................is daily 300mg of caffine better or worse on my body than 3 Excedren pills with total of 195 mg (65 mg caffine per pill).  If equal, I get slightly better results with the Excedren and would probably switch back to that.

[verkysha]

WOW! It is glorious to find others who suffer with this problem as it gives me hope that I can lick this addiction.

I've suffered with migraines for over 30 yrs. I've been on every prescription medication there is for migraines and nothing ever helped.

I'm 61 now and have been using Excedrin for migraine for around 10 yrs. I can't say I have a specific amount I take but I know it is way too much. Lately I've been having too many moderate headaches, nearly every day and a bit of diarrhea now and again. I use to chalk it up to the beginning of a migraine do to the weather or chocolate as they are both bad triggers for me, but now I'm sure they are rebound headaches. Not sure if the diarrhea is a part of it or not, but most likely is.

Wish me luck! Starting tonight I'm going to try and stop taking it a little at a time as I don't think I could handle cold turkey.

[LKBMORE]

My husband weaned himself off excederin and caffeine after 10 years. It took 2 months before there was significant improvement so please be patient.  Now that his headached aren't as frequent and he is not numbing himself with OTCs he has also discovered a number of food triggers that have contributed to his hjeadached (wine, cheese, nuts, sweetners).  good luck!

[starsailor13]

I am a registered nurse who took Excedrin for YEARS for  migraines. I will tell you this. Your addiction is to the caffeine in the Excedrin. And coming off of them is equivalent to tying to stop drinking coffee. The horrible headaches from not taking them is the rebound effect. You need them to stop the headache from NOT taking them. You have to wean yourself slowly. Plain and simple. And the stomach issues are common as well as aspirin is toxic to the stomach.  The only reason I had to stop taking Excedrin is because I developed an allergy to caffeine. My heart goes into an abnormal rhythm from any form of caffeine in any quantities. Sad, I know cause Excedrin was my savior when it comes to my migraines.

[eyda55]

I use Excedrin Migraine once an a while, is the only non-prescription medicine that works for me, but I understand all the concerns.  So what I do?  I reduced the dose to one, when are just starting the migraine signs, also I take baking soda with water to control the nausea and stomach bothering.  I meditate with frequency, and I void STRESS at all cost.  That is how I battle addiction, reducing the dose and be in harmony with everything.
I hope this helps.
PS: And I drink a lot of black tea...that is why I might not have diarrhea...(!?)

[BlessedbyGod1218]

About 12 years ago i asked a doctor if it was possible to be addicted to excedrin and he called me everything but stupid.  Well I took it for 20+ years and developed ulcers in my stomach, my stomach closed and I almost died.  They had to remove half of my stomach and some of my colon.  Then they had (as the doctors called it) re-route me.  I spent 6 weeks in a hospital and now I have a huge scar and bill.    It was from taken excedrin and yes I was addicted to them.  
PLEASE READ THIS IS REAL