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Excedrin
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?
I am 33 years old, and have been taking Excedrin consistantly for about 6 years now. I take at least two every morning, and like you, if I only take 2 in the morning, I consider it a "good" day.
Several years ago, I was diagnosed with an ulcer. The pain was unbelievable. I was put on Prevacid, and the ulcer eventually healed. It was obvious that the ulcer was a result of Excedrin (and wine), and instead of stopping then, I continued to take Excedrin along with the Prevacid.
I take between 2-4 per day. I can't tell you a day when I didn't take any.
I have done the cold turkey quitting, and you almost have to do it over a weekend when you have no plans, because it will knock you on your a$$.
I would suggest trying this:
Take one for the next few days. I think for me, the addiction is not only physical, but psychological. Drink a soda, or some coffee or tea when you feel a headache coming on.
After this, just rely on the soda, tea, or coffee. Eventually, the caffeine withdrawal will subside. I am convinced that is the problem with us.
If you want to email me directly, my email address is ***@****. Maybe we can try doing this together.
Several years ago, I was diagnosed with an ulcer. The pain was unbelievable. I was put on Prevacid, and the ulcer eventually healed. It was obvious that the ulcer was a result of Excedrin (and wine), and instead of stopping then, I continued to take Excedrin along with the Prevacid.
I take between 2-4 per day. I can't tell you a day when I didn't take any.
I have done the cold turkey quitting, and you almost have to do it over a weekend when you have no plans, because it will knock you on your a$$.
I would suggest trying this:
Take one for the next few days. I think for me, the addiction is not only physical, but psychological. Drink a soda, or some coffee or tea when you feel a headache coming on.
After this, just rely on the soda, tea, or coffee. Eventually, the caffeine withdrawal will subside. I am convinced that is the problem with us.
If you want to email me directly, my email address is ***@****. Maybe we can try doing this together.
I've been with my girlfriend for 6 months.
She's been taking Excedrin for a year.
When she showed me the bottle near when we first met my thoughts were 'this looks addictive'
Something about the combination of drugs in Excedrin was just wrong to me.
I've taken one or two but no where near a constant basis cause I don't get headaches that much.
I didn't know she was taking 2 in the morning at work, and then every other day she would have a headache and take some more.
It got to be a daily thing recently, and where she would just constantly have a headache. Thankfully she wasn't ramping up the Excedrin too much. I feel bad for not making her quit earlier.
Were both very young, just past 20, she has no health insurance so I'm hoping that after the Excedrin storm we can deal with anything else medical.
I keep looking at the bottle hating Excedrin. I guess its my way of dealing with this. I just hate to see her in so much pain.
Nowhere on the bottle does it say it can be addictive, which I find wrong. I thought we were suppose to be told of this.
The only thing Excedrin has on there site is something about Rebound Headaches under the types of headaches. It says if you take the maximum dosage without relief talk to your Dr.
I also think its funny that Excedrin has all these different products. Its all the same medicine, the same dosage of the same stuff. What is it placebo?
I'd like to produce a medicine that was actually sugar pills, say its aspirin or some new drug with a long name that cures headaches within 15 minutes and see how much it works...
I've used a placebo Vitamin C and some basic hypnosis to cure head pains, chest pains and put someone to sleep. They woke up next morning feeling great. I wish it was that simple with this.
I think I'd rather go through the withdrawal symptoms then see my love do it. I never knew how painful this side of the argument can be.
Good health to all and to all a good holiday season,
Roarke
She's been taking Excedrin for a year.
When she showed me the bottle near when we first met my thoughts were 'this looks addictive'
Something about the combination of drugs in Excedrin was just wrong to me.
I've taken one or two but no where near a constant basis cause I don't get headaches that much.
I didn't know she was taking 2 in the morning at work, and then every other day she would have a headache and take some more.
It got to be a daily thing recently, and where she would just constantly have a headache. Thankfully she wasn't ramping up the Excedrin too much. I feel bad for not making her quit earlier.
Were both very young, just past 20, she has no health insurance so I'm hoping that after the Excedrin storm we can deal with anything else medical.
I keep looking at the bottle hating Excedrin. I guess its my way of dealing with this. I just hate to see her in so much pain.
Nowhere on the bottle does it say it can be addictive, which I find wrong. I thought we were suppose to be told of this.
The only thing Excedrin has on there site is something about Rebound Headaches under the types of headaches. It says if you take the maximum dosage without relief talk to your Dr.
I also think its funny that Excedrin has all these different products. Its all the same medicine, the same dosage of the same stuff. What is it placebo?
I'd like to produce a medicine that was actually sugar pills, say its aspirin or some new drug with a long name that cures headaches within 15 minutes and see how much it works...
I've used a placebo Vitamin C and some basic hypnosis to cure head pains, chest pains and put someone to sleep. They woke up next morning feeling great. I wish it was that simple with this.
I think I'd rather go through the withdrawal symptoms then see my love do it. I never knew how painful this side of the argument can be.
Good health to all and to all a good holiday season,
Roarke
i know this post is old...but i'm going to comment anyway. some people dismiss excedrin addiction entirely. i know it's real...but it's certainly not the same as other addictions. i take 2 ever morning. i used to take much more. the 2 i take every morning are actually taken just to prevent the headache i know will come if i don't take them. there is mild psychological addiction in that i get rather grumpy when i don't take them and i do have a strong desire to take them. i suppose this can be attributed to the caffeine...but the question is that if it's the caffeine alone, then why does large ammounts of coffee not replace the urge? and why do you still get a severe migraine if you do replace it with, say, coffee and some extra strength tylenol. by the ingredients on the back of the excedrine bottle...this should be all that's needed. for some reason it doesn't work, though.
anyway...i don't compare this psychologically to other addictions i've had. it certainly is a mystery, though, as to the physical withdrawal excedrine can produce and why it's effects are so different than what you would get from taking 500mg of tyenol with a couple cups of coffee.
there are certain medications that have vasoconstricters in them...such as midrin...that can be used in place of excedrin to help with withdrawal. the problem is that it causes sleepiness so using it in the morning kind of bites...and in rare cases it can be addicting. but it really is frustrating when people don't take this habbit seriously. there really is something about the formulation that causes psychical and psychological withdrawal symptoms when taken for extended periods of time.
anyway...i don't compare this psychologically to other addictions i've had. it certainly is a mystery, though, as to the physical withdrawal excedrine can produce and why it's effects are so different than what you would get from taking 500mg of tyenol with a couple cups of coffee.
there are certain medications that have vasoconstricters in them...such as midrin...that can be used in place of excedrin to help with withdrawal. the problem is that it causes sleepiness so using it in the morning kind of bites...and in rare cases it can be addicting. but it really is frustrating when people don't take this habbit seriously. there really is something about the formulation that causes psychical and psychological withdrawal symptoms when taken for extended periods of time.
Hey.. saw this post and wondering if taking 2 Excedrin PM @ NIGHT is bad???
I am a recovering addict x's 75 days off of a 8-10 Norco habit a day x's 3 years for 2 back surgeries and was told that I could take the Excedrin PM in order to help relieve my sciatic pain and back pain at night so that I could get some sleep...
Am I setting myself up for ANOTHER withdrawl here by taking the Excedrin PM at night??
I am a recovering addict x's 75 days off of a 8-10 Norco habit a day x's 3 years for 2 back surgeries and was told that I could take the Excedrin PM in order to help relieve my sciatic pain and back pain at night so that I could get some sleep...
Am I setting myself up for ANOTHER withdrawl here by taking the Excedrin PM at night??
That's kind of a tough one to answer Queen. Anything can be somewhat addicting. Have you tried to go without the excedrin pm at night? That would be one way to find out. Also, do you take them every night or only when you need them. I too have had surgery for a herniated disc and still deal with the sciatic problem due to scar tissue hitting the nerve. I know how painful that can me. It's like someone is stabbing me in the hip/butt area with a dagger and moving it around! If you look at the bright side though, you're not taking a opiate. I'm prescribed neurontin for the nerve pain but rarely take it as I've heard it can be addictive also. What out there doesn't have some sort of addictive traits? Coffee, soda, chocolate, etc...the list goes on and on! Some things are just more dangerous than others.
I have been taking Excedrin for over 10 years daily. Two in the morning and if I feel a headache coming on in the afternoon I will take two more. Yes, Excedrin is so addictive. I am 41 years old and I am very worried about the side effects. I am trying to get healthy, losing weight, eating healthy...but when I think about not taking Excedrin it scares me...Crazy I know!! Even scarrier...what it does to our liver! I am shocked at how much information there is on the internet about Excedrin and how many people have the same problem as I do...I am seriously considering taking either this weekend or next and trying to detox and get away from this drug!!!!!! Wish me luck!!!!
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