Acetaminophen / aspirin / caffeine and Increased Heart Rate: What Users Say

• Kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 25, 2018

For Migraine "I had the worst experience taking Excedrin for the first time. I ended up in the hospital shortly after due to having a bad reaction to the caffeine in this medicine. My heart began racing and jumped to 130 bpm and kept rising. I began feeling faint and was rushed to the hospital. Although my migraine went away, it was not a pleasant experience. Be aware if you are sensitive to caffeine."

• RS1...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2017

For Migraine "I had a horrible experience with Excedrin Migraine. Shortly after taking it, my heart started racing super fast, I got extremely anxious, and my body started shaking. Like other people are saying, if you are sensitive to caffeine, do not take this medicine. It didn't take my migraine away either, so it's not worth it at all."

• Mig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2020

For Migraine "I’ve had a migraine for about 4 days now. It was helping in the beginning, but I took it and now my heart rate is skyrocketing. I feel dizzy and can’t fall asleep. I’m hoping this goes away soon, it is a very odd sensation. It kept me up all night. I just want to sleep! :("

• Sue...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 4, 2019

For Migraine "I have a love/hate relationship with this medication. I've had migraines since I was a child, but I also have anxiety. This is the only medication that takes my migraines away. However, it can also cause anxiety/panic symptoms, especially lightheaded feeling and fast heartbeat. I only take one with food and a lot of water. So it's either deal with the pain or uncomfortable anxiety symptoms for a while."

• KLH...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2023

For Pain/Fever "I started taking Excedrin Extra Strength just every morning for pain. I ran out of my regular over-the-counter pain medicine. After taking this for 3 days in a row, I started having rapid heart rate and palpitations, lethargy, and the ringing in my ear got a lot worse. I already have tinnitus and vertigo along with Meniere's disease. I was nauseated, shaking, and dizzy. All these side effects made it hard to even sit up or do much of anything. Definitely a bad reaction. It did help with the everyday pain I have when I wake up, but not worth taking with the side effects. I believe it's a possible allergic reaction."

• Rya...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 1, 2021

For Migraine "This is the single worst experience of my life. For 6-7 hours, I was debilitatingly nauseous, my heart rate was incredibly high, and my migraine was still at its height. This was on New Year's Eve. I was convinced it was the end of my life."

• Car...
• March 25, 2016

For Migraine "I woke up with a migraine and took this, it dulled it but never went fully away. When I was able to take my next dose, I did. Soon after, my vision started to blur, my face was flushed, I felt light-headed, dizzy, the room was spinning, my heart was racing (over 180 bpm! Well over that), and I felt like I was about to pass out. Turns out it was a reaction to the caffeine in this. I am not a caffeine-free person and had never had this experience before, but the doctor said the caffeine is a high dose in this. I now take Aleve or Maxalt for bad migraines, no issues."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 25, 2022

For Migraine "I had been having some bad headaches for a few days, so I decided to take Excedrin. Took 2 pills and drank a cup of coffee thinking the extra caffeine would help. The headache was still there, so I took 1 more Excedrin a few hours later. Bad idea. I felt sick to my stomach all night. My heart was racing, but I couldn't sit still because I was jittery and anxious from the caffeine. Felt like I was going to pass out. Very scary. Almost called 911."