Can You Drink After Taking Excedrin?

You’re headed out to a friend’s birthday dinner, but you feel a migraine coming on. You take Excedrin before leaving the house to make sure you won’t be miserable throughout the night. During dinner, everyone orders a drink, and you may be wondering if you can join in. 

Your migraine may be at bay, but having a drink while taking Excedrin still isn’t a good idea. Let’s examine how alcohol and Excedrin interact to understand why mixing the two can be a recipe for disaster.

Excedrin: A Migraine Mitigator 

Excedrin is an over-the-counter pain medication used specifically to treat migraines and tension headaches. The medication is made of a combination of three main components: 

• Acetaminophen. Commonly known as Tylenol, acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer. It reduces the amount of prostaglandins (hormone-like compounds) produced. A decrease in prostaglandins increases the amount of pain our body can tolerate.
• Aspirin. Aspirin is a nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drug that reduces pain and inflammation. It also reduces prostaglandins but through different mechanisms. 
• Caffeine. Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, which means that it narrows our blood vessels. This helps to combat headaches that can occur when our blood vessels widen.

Together, the three components work together to mitigate migraines and tension headaches, distinguishing Excedrin from other pain medications.  

Alcohol’s Connection to Migraines

Alcohol is a common trigger for migraines due to the numerous factors:

• Diuretic properties. Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning that it promotes excess elimination of fluid from the body. This can lead to dehydration, which is a known trigger for migraines. Alcohol is also a vasodilator, which means that it causes the blood vessels in our brain to expand. This is the main reason that drinking is often associated with pounding headaches. For those of us who are sensitive to migraines, alcohol’s vasodilation effects can be a trigger.
• Congeners. As byproducts of alcohol from fermentation or distillation, congeners can be found in some dark alcohols such as wines and whiskeys. These chemicals are associated with worse headaches and can trigger migraines, which is why some of us get the dreaded “wine hangover” after having a glass. 
• Sleep disruptions. Another way that alcohol can trigger migraines is through disruption of our sleep patterns. Poor sleep and migraines can often start a feedback loop. Lack of sleep can trigger migraines, which can then affect our sleep. 

As we can see, alcohol is directly linked to an increased risk of migraines, as it sets the scene. So if we take Excedrin to ease our migraines, does it cancel out the negative effects of alcohol?

Can You Take Excedrin With Alcohol?

On the contrary, alcohol can interact with all three components of Excedrin — making it even more dangerous than mixing alcohol with each of the ingredients on its own. Alcohol, acetaminophen, and aspirin are all broken down by our mighty liver. However, our liver can only do so much at once. 

• Alcohol and acetaminophen. When mixing alcohol and acetaminophen, our liver will be overworked — increasing the risks of harm from toxins in alcohol and the harmful byproducts of the medication. 
• Alcohol and aspirin. Similarly, alcohol will also interact with the breakdown of aspirin, leading to higher levels of medication found in our blood which can produce greater adverse effects. 
• Alcohol and caffeine. Even though caffeine and alcoholic beverages are frequently mixed, they can be a dangerous duo. Alcohol is a depressant but can have stimulant effects while drinking. The two have overlapping effects and, when combined, they can amplify side effects such as increased heart rate and dehydration. 

Since alcohol interacts with all three active ingredients in Excedrin, drinking can cause serious consequences. 

Can You Take Excedrin After Drinking?

Excedrin isn’t recommended to be taken before, during, or after drinking. Both substances stay in our body for much longer than when they’re first consumed. This means that even though some time may have passed since we started drinking, alcohol can still be in our body and negatively interact with Excedrin. 

We all metabolize alcohol differently, and the time it takes our body to break down and eliminate alcohol can differ from person to person, depending on factors such as the amount of alcohol and the timeframe in which it was consumed. In general, it takes about an hour to metabolize a standard drink. However, since this changes depending on many factors, it’s difficult to determine an exact timeframe, so it’s best to err on the side of caution. 

Can You Drink After Taking Excedrin?

Our migraine may be going away after taking Excedrin, so we may be wondering when it’s okay to drink. As with alcohol, the medication takes time to be metabolized and eliminated from our system. 

The half-life of Excedrin is 10 hours. This means that it takes about 10 hours for half of the medication to be eliminated. For it to be completely eliminated, it can take a minimum of 20 hours. To be safe, it’s recommended to wait at least 24-48 hours after taking Excedrin to drink.

Drinking after taking Excedrin can also increase the risk of triggering another migraine. Although we may feel better after taking the medication, Excedrin could just be suppressing symptoms. Drinking alcohol, a known migraine trigger, could aggravate symptoms that can become even more severe once the medication subsides. If we’ve already accidentally had a drink, should we panic? 

How Much Is Too Much?

It’s best to avoid all alcohol when taking Excedrin. That being said, if we drink, it’s best to wait an hour for each standard drink we consume. This can minimize the adverse effects and give our body time to metabolize each of the substances separately. However, it’s important to note that the “one standard drink per hour” rule is an average and may not be the same for everyone. In addition, two or three standard drinks in one hour can overload our liver and drastically change everything. 

To avoid any adverse effects, the best course of action is to avoid mixing alcohol and Excedrin. 

Negative Effects of Mixing Alcohol and Excedrin

Alcohol and Excedrin have direct interactions that can lead to serious effects:

• Nausea and vomiting. GI discomfort is a possible side effect of Excedrin. This overlaps with the symptoms of intoxication — increasing the chances of nausea and vomiting.
• Stomach ulcers. Ulcers are a listed side effect of Excedrin. Alcohol’s negative impact on our stomach lining can increase the risk of stomach ulcers.
• Stomach bleeding. NSAIDs like the aspirin in Excedrin are associated with possible upper GI bleeding. With the blood thinning effects of alcohol, this dangerous effect is even more common.
• Increased liver damage. Toxic byproducts of Excedrin and the toxic compound in alcohol, acetaldehyde, are both metabolized primarily by our liver. When taken together, our liver becomes overloaded and increasingly susceptible to damage. 
• Rapid heartbeat. Alcohol and components of Excedrin such as caffeine can both cause an increased heart rate. When combined, this effect can be amplified. 

Now that we’ve determined that mixing the two can be dangerous, how long should we wait between them?

What To Do If You Mix Excedrin and Alcohol

There’s no need to panic if we accidentally mix the two, but it’s best to stop drinking immediately and take the proper precautions:

• Monitor symptoms. Since alcohol and Excedrin are associated with their own side effects, keeping track of any symptoms we experience can help us determine if we should seek medical treatment. This can also help us understand more about how alcohol can affect our migraines.
• Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water can help our cells and organs function optimally to metabolize alcohol and Excedrin efficiently. It can also help to combat dehydration. 
• Seek medical treatment. Mixing alcohol and Excedrin can cause severe side effects. If you experience any worrisome symptoms, dial 911 and seek emergency medical treatment immediately. 

Migraines can be debilitating. Mixing a treatment and trigger for migraines is a recipe for disaster. So, how can we approach drinking and Excedrin safely?

Approaching Alcohol and Excedrin Safely 

There’s no “safe” way to drink while taking Excedrin. However, implementing mindful drinking practices can help reduce the risk of harmful consequences:

• Avoid alcohol. Avoiding alcohol can prevent the dangerous effects of mixing alcohol and Excedrin. It also prevents alcohol-related triggers — improving the occurrence of our migraines. 
• Find alternatives. Alcohol-free alternatives can help us keep the party going without the risks of interactions between Excedrin and alcohol. Mix up a cocktail with an electrolyte-rich beverage to stay hydrated and keep those migraine symptoms from returning.
• Migraine management. Lifestyle changes through avoiding individual triggers can limit the need for Excedrin to treat symptoms. It also reminds us to quit or cut back on alcohol, which can help us reduce additional triggers.
• Prioritize liver health. One of the main consequences of mixing Excedrin and alcohol is liver damage. Maintaining our liver health through regular exercise, a balanced diet, and limiting toxic substances can help with our overall health and well-being.

These mindful practices will limit interactions between Excedrin and alcohol and help us better manage our migraines.

The Bottom Line

Excedrin is made of a specific combination of ingredients that make it an effective pain reliever for migraines and tension headaches. Alcohol not only acts as a trigger for migraines, which Excedrin is used to treat but also directly interacts with all three components of the medication — leading to potentially dangerous symptoms. Avoiding drinking not only prevents the adverse effects of mixing alcohol and Excedrin but also minimizes triggers for migraines. Skip the champagne (and all alcohol for that matter) and avoid a migraine!