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?

[triplexpg]

wow... had no clue others suffered with this.

thanks for everybody who shared their experience..... I thought I was being dramatic when I suggested to myself that I *may* be addicted to Excedrin.(I use the cheaper walmart generic kind)
I was basically laughing about it in my head as I googled the key words that led me to this site....  

I understand people being addicted to excedrin/tylenol PM, but OTC Excedrin? lol

I thought the FDA would've warned US about this type of thing?

crazy part is I've had access to Vicodin/tylenol 3/etc etc. and I've never let myself get addicted to those, maybe because I knew they were addictive and(possibly) destructive.   ??  

frickin big pharma...

[seattlemom2plus]

That is a very interesting excerpt that you posted, I never thought about it in that way but makes perfect sense.  I could see why people develop a dependence on this as it helps them cope with anguish without even realizing it.

[thepegster37]

I have used Excedrin without aspirin for many years.  I suffered from migraines and was taking Fiornal and then Fioricet for the pain.  My daughter suggested that I try Extra Strength Excedrin, and I did.  It worked very well.  Although I took other medication (i.e., amitriptyline), I continued to use Excedrin and still do when I get occasional headaches.

What occurred (and still does) when I took Excedrin is that I felt better mentally.  I thought I was totally insane.  I must add that I suffer and have suffered since my 20s from clinical depression.  The Excedrin snapped me out of the low feeling for awhile.  It was wonderful.  

In the January 11, 2010 edition of the Orlando Sentimental, I read the following article.  And I know it says Tylenol, but it is acetaminophen, too, and I don’t like Tylenol.  

“We often use the same words to describe physical and mental pain -- headaches and heartaches, broken bones and broken spirits.  Recent evidence suggests that physical pain and the feelings associated with social rejection extend beyond metaphors.

Over-the-counter painkillers that alleviate physical aches also can ease mental anguish, according to a study in the journal Psychological Science. Researchers found that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, may have an off-label benefit.  The experiment involved 62 healthy volunteers who took a daily dose of acetaminophen or a placebo. Hurt feelings decreased over time in those taking acetaminophen, researchers found, but not in those given the placebo.

In another test, researchers gave 25 volunteers a double dosage of acetaminophen or a placebo, but this time they participated in a computer game rigged to create feelings of social rejection. Acetaminophen reduced neural responses to mental anxiety, while the placebo did not.

"People trivialize the pain of rejection," said University of Kentucky psychologist C. Nathan DeWall, who led the study. "This research has the potential to change how people think about physical and social pain. We hope our findings can pave the way for interventions designed to reduce the pain of social rejection and ostracism."

That doesn't mean we should fill our medicine cabinets with Tylenol to cope with personal problems. Researchers caution that long-term use of acetaminophen can have serious side effects, such as liver damage, and the authors say more research is needed to verify the drug's benefits on reducing emotional responses to breakups and social snubs.”

[thepegster37]

with personal problems. Researchers caution that long-term use of acetaminophen can have serious side effects, such as liver damage, and the authors say more research is needed to verify the drug's benefits on reducing emotional responses to breakups and social snubs.”

[seattlemom2plus]

Everyone's body's are different.  I developed an ulcer from taking things like Excedrin and some of the migraine medicine I was prescribed.  So eventually I stopped taking all of it and my ulcer cleared up and the headaches were able to be controlled with just Tylenol.  Excedrin also has caffeine in it so when you stop taking it you can get caffeine headaches as well.   Keep us posted on his progress I will be interested to see what works for him.

[dontlikemigraines]

I too have taken Excedrin for a number of years (25) and haven't had any serious health issues.  I just take 1 pill instead of 2 at a time - usually end up taking a total of 3 or 4 pills a day.  Sometimes I get a little heartburn, but just if I take it on an empty stomach.  I too eat healthy - no refined or processed foods and I exercise and have a low BMI and weight.  I also take Excedrin PM at night.  My PCP told me that over the counter sleeping aids are not addictive, although you can build up a tolerance to them.  I did quit Excedrin at one point - and while I did have some serious withdrawal symptoms, even after the withdrawal was gone, I still received headaches that turned into migraines and Tylenol and other pain relievers were not helpful.  Therefore, I went back to Excedrin.  When I was 16 I started taking it because of the same kinds of headaches that would often turn into horrible migraines.  Excedrin works.   I figure if I had a brain tumor or other serious condition like that - it would have presented itself in a more serious manner at some point over the past 25 years.  Lots of people remain on medications for migraines for life - so I don't see the difference between that and taking Excedrin to hold them at bay.