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I have been weaning myself also. Was taking up to 8 Excedrin/day. Now I am pretty much off Excedrin and just take a couple of aspirin. Today I just took one aspirin, and went to the chiropractor (had an appointment anyway for back), who helped me somewhat. My kidney levels are off, and my doc said that I HAVE to get off the Excedrin. Have taken it for 30 years, same as others here (would get a migraine if I didn't take it). I remember when I was expecting my second baby I had a migraine for 3 weeks. Couldn't take anything for it and was miserable, despite massages and physical therapy. But after that, I only got migraines if I didn't get enough sleep. Then over the years I started having to take more Excedrin again. At first I thought that maybe it was a hormonal thing since most of the migraines stopped after that terrible 3-week period. Now I think that my drastic decrease in migraines may have been because I went 'cold turkey' in getting off of it. I am going to get off even the one aspirin within a week, and if need be, go to an urgent care center if I get a migraine. Caffeine helps, but I don't take too much. Need to get off of that too (have never been a coffee drinker, but had tons of Coke Zero/Diet Coke until the past year). Ahhh --- paying for poor health habits is catching up with me. Had a friend die of taking Excedrin like we do. :(
February 12, 2016 - 3:00pmThis Comment
Hi i am having the same problem.
February 16, 2011 - 12:10pmAbout 4 years ago I was diagnosed with mild ulceretive colitis
and was prescribed Asacol. The main side effect of Asacol is headaches. As soon as I started Asacol the headaches started.
Execdrin made the headaches go away in a matter of 10 minutes
then the headaches became more frequent and so did the excedrin.
About 2 years ago my colitis went away and I stopped Ascol. But by that time I was getting headaches daily and taking execdring daily.
I never took more than 2 doses a day (4 pills). This past June I was sick of these headaches and went to my general physician to address this issue. Blood tests and MRI results were unremakable.
My doctor said "i am not worried about excedrin poisoning" and did not address the problem and basically ended the meeting.
Tommorow I have scheduled a appointment with a headache specialist. I want to get off execdrin!
Any advice
thanks
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So I finally went to the Headache specialist on 2/17. She prescribed propanlol 120 mgs. The Dr stated either I can go cold turkey with the Execdrin or I take the propanlol to help me wean off it. I decided to go semi cold turkey. This works (atleast for me) I took 2 Alieves BEFORE i got a headache. I kept on doing this for 4 days. I did not get a headache. The Aleive kept the headache from comming, and by this time the Execdrin had cleared out of my system. Today is my 8 day of not taking Execdrin, and 4th day stopping the Alieve. No headaches.
March 1, 2011 - 12:13amOh by the way I did not know this was a womans forum 2 weeks ago I was desperately searching for advice on the net and I stumbled upon this article. I am a male. I hope this article helps people.
These headaches can be scary, but they are actually caused BY the medicine.
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Thank you so much for this info. I've felt like my life is over for about two years now. I'm fighting back the tears as I write this comment. I'm up to about three times per day taking Excedrin (or the store brand since it hasn't been available) and I can't seem to stop. The last two days I've suffered a few extra hours to try and taper it down and I've got it down to twice a day. I've had some lower back pain and pain on my right side around the waist area and I'm petrafied that I've damaged my liver/kidneys. I have no insurance and I can't get the medical care I need, which is why I got so stuck on the Excedrin. I'm going to try your idea about the Aleve for four days before headache even comes on and see if that helps. Thank you so much!
July 14, 2012 - 7:19pmThis Comment
Thank you for sharing this very helpful information!
Here is more information about the drug you were referring to, in case anyone wanted to know more about it: Propranolol: http://www.drugs.com/propranolol.html
March 1, 2011 - 1:24pmThis Comment
Please update us with information from the headache specialist, as it could help a lot of women learn how to stop suffering from rebound headaches.
Good luck with your appointment!
February 17, 2011 - 9:54amThis Comment
I have this same problem... Im curious as well.
February 21, 2010 - 7:10pmThis Comment
Hi,
Can you tell us what you are curious about? Were you able to read any of the helpful information/links that Tina provided above?
What symptoms do you have, and what treatment(s) have you tried?
February 21, 2010 - 8:58pmThis Comment
I have used Excedrine for years, and then begin waking up every night with the worse headaceh, if not a migraine it turned into one. I thought they were rebound headaches, so I went to Dr. She put me on 80mgs. of Inderal, and the headaches stopped. I had tried 20 mgs of inderal before and it did nothing.
January 27, 2010 - 3:27pmI still get some migraines if I eat chocolate and/or to many sweets, etc. But now it takes less Excedrine and very little Imitrex to get rid of them..
This Comment
I would highly suggest to wean yourself off of the excedrin.
Lori Barker
October 4, 2008 - 9:39pm7 years with Pudendal Neuralgia
Currently on 4 different pain medications with no luck but
Looking for hope!
This Comment