How long does it take for Excedrin Migraine to work?

Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on May 9, 2025.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

Key Points

Excedrin Migraine can work as quickly as 30 minutes to relieve your migraine pain.
In clinical studies, patients with moderate to severe migraines experienced pain relief with one dose and it lasted up to 6 hours.
Excedrin Migraine is taken as soon as your migraine headache begins. It is not used to prevent migraine headaches.

What's in Excedrin Headache?

Each caplet or geltab of Excedrin Migraine contains 65 milligrams (mg) of caffeine, 250 mg of acetaminophen, and 250 mg of aspirin. Caffeine increases the effects of pain medicines like aspirin and acetaminophen and can make these medicines more effective.

The regular dosage for adults is 2 caplets or geltabs with a full glass of water.
Do not take more than two caplets or geltabs in any 24-hour period, unless directed by your doctor.
If symptoms worsen or persist, contact your doctor.
If you are under 18 years of age, ask a doctor before use.

The recommended dose of Excedrin Migraine contains roughly as much caffeine as a cup of coffee. Limit caffeine-containing medications, foods, or beverages while using Excedrin Migraine. Excessive caffeine can cause nervousness, irritability, sleeplessness, and rapid heart beat.

If you have migraine headaches that are not responding to any over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, contact your doctor for further evaluation. There are many prescription treatments available for migraine that may be helpful for you.

Over-the-counter generic and store-brands of Excedrin Migraine are available in the US.

Related: Review of Migraine Treatment

How long does Excedrin Migraine last?

In three placebo-controlled studies, an acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine combination (equivalent to Excedrin Migraine) was shown to last up to 6 hours when taken to relieve migraine headache pain.

Significant pain relief rated as mild or none began in 30 minutes in the group receiving the acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine combination compared to placebo in a pooled analysis of all three studies.

Two hours after taking the dose, the pain intensity was reduced to mild or none in 59.3% of 602 patients in the drug-treated group compared to 32.8% of 618 patients in the placebo group.
At six hours after taking the dose, 79% of those taking the active drug and 52% of placebo-treated patients rated pain as mild or none. Also, at six hours after the dose, 50.8% of drug-treated patients and 23.5% of placebo-treated patients reported being pain-free.
At all time points, results were found to be statistically significant when compared to placebo.

Other migraine headache symptoms such as nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and inability to carry out usual daily activities (functional disability), were also significantly improved 2 to 6 hours after treatment with the acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine combination, when compared with a placebo.

This is not all the information you need to know about Excedrin Migraine for safe and effective use and does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your treatment. Review the full Excedrin Migraine information here, and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

How often can you take Excedrin Migraine?

The usual adult dose for Excedrin Migraine is 2 caplets with a glass of water. Do not take more than 2 caplets in 24 hours, unless directed by your doctor. Taking more than 2 caplets in 24 hours may cause an overdose of acetaminophen, one of the ingredients in Excedrin Migraine. Taking too much acetaminophen may damage your liver or cause death. In case of an overdose, get medical help right away or contact a poison control center. Continue reading

Does caffeine help migraines?

Caffeine has been shown to increase the effects of pain relievers like aspirin and acetaminophen for migraine headaches, increasing the effectiveness of these medicines by up to 40%. Continue reading

Why does throwing up relieve migraines?

For many, vomiting can help relieve migraine symptoms, even stopping the headache altogether. Research suggests that vomiting stops migraines by alleviating gastric stasis (or gastroparesis), the delayed gastric emptying that causes stomach upset to occur over the course of a migraine.

How long does it take for Excedrin Migraine to work?

Key Points

What's in Excedrin Headache?

How long does Excedrin Migraine last?

Related questions

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How often can you take Excedrin Migraine?

Does caffeine help migraines?

Why does throwing up relieve migraines?

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