Differences Between Excedrin And Excedrin Migraine

Publish date: 2024-03-20

Excedrin is a widely known and widely available brand of headache relief medicine. But what many people don’t know is that there are actually two forms of Excedrin, Excedrin and Excedrin Migraine. While they share a name, they have different ingredients and work differently depending on the type of headache. To understand how they are different, it’s important to look at their ingredients, how each works, and understand the differences between migraine and regular headaches.

What is Excedrin?

Excedrin is a combination of three active ingredients to treat headache symptoms: acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine. It works to block pain signals as well as reduce inflammation and constrict blood vessels, which is why it is often used to treat tension headaches and other headaches. In addition to relieving pain, the combination of these ingredients can also reduce fatigue and help improve focus.

It is recommended that those with liver disease, G6PD deficiency, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take Excedrin. It can also interact with other medications, so it is important to always check with a doctor before taking it.

What is Excedrin Migraine?

Excedrin Migraine is also a combination of three active ingredients – acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine. However, the ingredient makeup of Excedrin Migraine is different than that of regular Excedrin. This medication is specifically formulated to treat migraine headaches and they feature an additional two active ingredients – acetylsalicylic acid and an anti-inflammatory drug called pyroxicam.

Excedrin Migraine is also not recommended for those with underlying medical conditions, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and can cause adverse reactions if taken in high doses or with other medications. Therefore, it is important to always speak to a healthcare professional before taking this medication.

Ingredients

The biggest difference between Excedrin and Excedrin Migraine lies in their ingredients. Regular Excedrin contains acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine, while Excedrin Migraine contains the same, in addition to acetylsalicylic acid and pyroxicam. Acetaminophen acts as a pain reliever and fever reducer, aspirin is an anti-inflammatory, and caffeine helps to constrict blood vessels around the brain and reduce the pain.

Excedrin Migraine contains acetylsalicylic acid, which is an anti-platelet compound, meaning that it prevents the formation of blood clots in the brain caused by migraine headaches. Pyroxicam is an anti-inflammatory drug that works to reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain caused by migraines.

How They Work

Regular Excedrin works to reduce pain, block pain signals, and reduce inflammation from headaches. It also contains caffeine to constrict the blood vessels around the brain, which can help to alleviate headache pain. However, it does not address the underlying causes of headaches, meaning that the effects are not typically long-lasting and might not be effective for more severe headaches.

Excedrin Migraine is specifically formulated to treat migraine headaches, which are more severe and often result from constricted blood vessels or inflammation. The additional ingredients in Excedrin Migraine are designed to address the underlying causes of migraines, such as constricted blood vessels or inflammation, making the effects more long-lasting and effective.

Efficacy

Studies have shown that Excedrin is not always effective for migraine headaches. This can be due to the fact that regular Excedrin does not address the underlying causes of migraine headaches and its effects can be minimal or short-lived. On the other hand, Excedrin Migraine is specifically designed to address the causes of migraines and therefore can be more effective for treating migraine headaches.

It is also important to note that everyone’s body is different and what works for one person might not for the next. Therefore, it’s always important to speak with a health care provider before taking these or any other medication.

Side Effects

Both medications contain acetaminophen, which can cause side effects such as stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, and liver damage if taken in high doses. Both medications also contain aspirin, which can cause stomach upset, heartburn, and increased risk of bleeding. Lastly, both medications contain caffeine, which can cause side effects such as nervousness, irritability, and insomnia.

The most important thing to note is that all of the ingredients in these medications can interact with other medications, so it is always important to speak to a healthcare professional before taking them.

Frequency of Use

Excedrin does not come with any daily limits for use, meaning that it is safe to take as needed for headaches or other issues. However, it is important to note that if taken regularly it could increase the risk of serious, long-term side effects, such as liver damage or stomach bleeding.

Excedrin Migraine is also meant to be used as needed for migraine headaches, and should not be used more than 2-3 times per week. It is also important to speak to a healthcare provider before using this medication frequently.

Forms Available

Excedrin is available in liquid and pill form, while Excedrin Migraine is only available in pill form.

It is important to note that while Excedrin is available in liquid form, this is not recommended for children. It is also important to note that Excedrin Migraine is not recommended for children under the age of 18.

Cost

Excedrin and Excedrin Migraine are both equally affordable. The medications are both widely available and can be purchased without a prescription or insurance.

In addition to the cost savings, when compared to other medications for headaches or migraines, these medications are also much more affordable and accessible.

Summary

Excedrin and Excedrin Migraine are both popular medications for treating headache symptoms, though they work differently due to the different active ingredients used. Excedrin contains three main active ingredients – acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine, while Excedrin Migraine contains two additional ingredients – acetylsalicylic acid and pyroxicam. Excedrin is recommended for tension headaches and other types of headaches, while Excedrin Migraine is more effective for treating migraine headaches. Both medications are available at a low cost, though Excedrin Migraine is only available in pill form.

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