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Can you take Excedrin and ibuprofen together?

What you should know before considering taking these OTC pain relievers together
Sarah Bradley writer headshot
By | Nov. 18, 2024 Medically reviewed by Goldina Erowele, Pharm.D.
A bottle with different types of pills spilling out of it: Can you take Excedrin and ibuprofen together?

Key takeaways

  • Ibuprofen is an NSAID pain reliever that reduces fever and relieves pain and inflammation. It can treat various types of aches and pains.

  • Excedrin is a pain reliever with various types and options. Depending on the type, it may contain acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine. Excedrin treats aches and pains, but it is commonly marketed for headaches.

  • Both medications contain an NSAID ingredient (ibuprofen and aspirin), and taking these medications together can increase your risk of side effects.

  • Talk to your healthcare provider before using both, or space them out to avoid taking too much of the same type of pain reliever.

In this article:

When it comes to choosing over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, there are more than a few options. Two of the most common are ibuprofen and Excedrin. Not only can these medications temporarily relieve pain, but they can also reduce inflammation, making them helpful for managing headaches, including migraine and tension headaches.

Ibuprofen is a single-ingredient generic medication, often sold as brand-name Motrin or Advil. Excedrin is a brand-name medication that’s available in several types, including Excedrin PM, Excedrin Migraine, and Excedrin Extra Strength. Most versions of Excedrin contain the same ingredients—acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine. People experiencing a severe headache may wonder if taking these two medications together could provide extra pain relief. However, combining them may raise the risk of side effects and complications. Here’s what to know about taking ibuprofen and Excedrin at the same time.

Can you take ibuprofen and Excedrin together?

Unless your healthcare provider has given you different instructions, it’s generally best to avoid taking these drugs together. Aspirin (one of the ingredients in Excedrin) and ibuprofen are both nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that prevent the body from producing chemicals that cause pain. 

“Both ibuprofen and Excedrin contain NSAIDs,” says Erika Gray, Pharm.D., cofounder of Toolbox Genomics, “so taking them together can increase your chances of side effects, including increased risk of bleeding and heart attack or stroke.”

Dr. Gray says that there is one exception, however. Excedrin Tension Headache doesn’t include aspirin, so it can safely be taken with ibuprofen since there is no risk of overmedicating with NSAID pain relievers.

On their own, ibuprofen and aspirin carry risks of potential side effects, including:

  • Gastrointestinal upset, including stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, heartburn, and vomiting
  • Increased risk of ulcers and stomach bleeding
  • Kidney problems
  • Severe allergic reactions
  • Excessive bruising or bleeding
  • Increased risk of heart attack or stroke (ibuprofen only; aspirin does not raise this risk)

Combining different types of NSAIDs will further increase these risks, especially when it comes to kidney or liver injury and gastrointestinal bleeding, according to a study from 2004. 

How to take Excedrin with ibuprofen

Generally, you shouldn’t take ibuprofen and Excedrin together. However, if needed, you can take these two drugs at different times during the day with careful planning with your healthcare provider. People taking low doses of aspirin to help prevent heart attacks sometimes need to take ibuprofen as well for pain relief or inflammation. Some research has been done to determine the safest way to use both drugs together in such cases. 

It is important to talk to your healthcare provider if you aren’t sure about how to take these medications correctly. They can give you specific safety instructions to avoid overmedicating with NSAIDs and alert you to any potential interactions with medical conditions you have or other medications you are taking. 

How many hours between ibuprofen and Excedrin is safe to wait?

In general, if you need to take ibuprofen and Excedrin, it is important to space them out correctly. Libbat-Tzion Shaham, MD, a family physician with Medical Offices of Manhattan, says a typical dose of Excedrin lasts for six hours, so you could take ibuprofen six hours after Excedrin. If you take ibuprofen first, Dr. Shaham recommends waiting six to eight hours before taking Excedrin.

RELATED: How long does ibuprofen stay in your system?

Is Excedrin or ibuprofen better?

It depends on why you’re using these medications. Both Excedrin and ibuprofen can treat headaches and muscle aches, but one may work better than the other for specific conditions and situations. 

Excedrin Migraine and Excedrin Extra Strength contain three active ingredients: acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine. The caffeine acts as a “booster,” according to Excedrin’s manufacturer, to increase the effect of the pain-relieving ingredients. A study published in 2006 found that Excedrin’s combination of active ingredients worked better and faster than ibuprofen in treating migraine headaches.

Different types of headaches may respond better to different pain relievers, and everyone’s body responds to medication differently. For example, a recent study showed that ibuprofen and acetaminophen work similarly in treating tension headaches.

The other important factors to consider when choosing a medication are your own personal health and medical history. According to Dr. Shaham, neither medication should be taken after 20 weeks of pregnancy because NSAIDs can cause harm to a developing baby. As far as taking either drug while breastfeeding, Excedrin isn’t recommended because of the aspirin it contains. (Frequent and higher doses of aspirin are usually contraindicated for breastfeeding). Ibuprofen, however, is considered safe to take while breastfeeding.

Dr. Shaham says to keep in mind that Excedrin contains acetaminophen, and the maximum safe dose for most people is not more than 3,000 milligrams per day. If you are taking other medications containing acetaminophen, you’ll need to calculate your total daily dosage when taking Excedrin to ensure you’re not overmedicating. Consult your healthcare provider or ask your pharmacist before combining medications.

Excedrin vs. ibuprofen: Comparison chart
Excedrin Extra Strength Ibuprofen
Drug class Analgesic combination NSAID
Standard dosage and forms Varies depending on the indication, but the standard dosage is two tablets in adults.

Available as capsules: acetaminophen (250 mg), aspirin (250 mg), and caffeine (65 mg)

 Varies depending on the indication, but the standard dose is 200–400 milligrams every 4–6 hours as needed.

Available in the following forms:

  • Tablet: 100 mg, 200 mg, 400 mg (Rx), 600 mg (Rx), 800 mg (Rx)
  • Liquid-filled capsule: 200 mg
  • Capsule: 200 mg
  • Chewable tablet: 50 mg, 100 mg
  • Oral suspension (liquid): 50 mg/1.25 mL
Risks and restrictions to consider
Side effects
  • Allergic reaction 
  • Kidney damage
  • Heart attack or stroke 
Average cost without insurance $8 Varies by dosage
SingleCare cost Get coupon Get coupon
Learn more More Excedrin details More ibuprofen details

 

Bottom line

In general, it is best to avoid taking ibuprofen and Excedrin together since they both contain an NSAID ingredient. Combining NSAIDs increases your risk for side effects like gastrointestinal bleeding and heart attack. If you are experiencing severe or frequent headaches and having difficulty finding the right combination of medications to treat them, talk to your healthcare provider about the safest way to take Excedrin and ibuprofen or other options for treating head pain.