Excedrin Migraine Problems

[Kirian]

According to the delphi forums product list that I have all varities of Excedrin have been verified gluten free. Of course that was on 5/9/02 and things can change in 4 years.

Well, Saturday night I was at a friends house and was getting a migriane. I didn't want to have to leave early because I was having too much fun. I took some Excedrin Migraine. Not long after that I started to get brain fog, stomach cramps and gurgles and other symptoms like I had been glutened. I was a bit spacy and out of it yesterday too. That same night I also went to the bathroom and had fatty stools.

I was getting a really bad migraine again today. So, once again I took some Excedrin Migraine. I hadn't yet connected the dots with how I felt on Saturday. Again - not long after I took it I had the same exact symptoms as I did on Saturday. I went to the bathroom earlier and again had fatty stools. My stomach feels terrible and this brain fog is horrid.

Needless to say I am throwing out my Excedrin and won't be using it anymore. I was wondering if anyone had recently verified via the company that they are still supposed to be gluten free? I did email them earlier and am awaiting a response. If I don't get one after a week I may just call them.

I did do a google search on the forum and came across other having a reaction too. I think this may be a product we may all need to be warry of. Anyone else have a similar story to share here?

[Franceen]

Clan Thompson Drug List has several varieties of Excedrin, including Migrain, as gluten-free as of December 2005 (less than a year ago). They have no "notes" either. Some Excedrin has caffeine in it. If you are sensitive to caffeine that could be the problem?

[Kirian]

No, I don't think it is the caffeine. I have black and green tea with caffeine all the time and it doesn't do the same thing to me. I don't know, but it is weird and I sure hate to feel this way.

I was also wondering if it may be some sort of cc at their facility.

[Corkdarrr]

Kirian, Please keep us updated and what you hear back from the company.

I take Excedrin migraine like candy, as I have horrible and nearly constant headaches. They've improved since going gluten-free, but they are by no means gone. In fact, improvement just means I don't have one 22 hours a day.

Although, I might be at least a tiny bit happy if I found out it wasn't gluten-free because that would help explain why I'm not getting a whole lot better...

Thanks,

Courtney

[Kirian]

Will do Courtney!

Have you thought of the possibility that you are having rebound headaches? They are caused from taking a mass quatity of otc meds and can often be worse than the migraines! I used to suffer from these and started to go med free and suffer through my migraines for a bit. I was also taking Relpax which worked great for me but I ran out - thus the Excedrin. My frequency got smaller when I laid off the otc stuff. Since going gluten free they have been virtually non-existant except when I get my cycle (which I had this weekend).

[Corkdarrr]

Will do Courtney!

Have you thought of the possibility that you are having rebound headaches? They are caused from taking a mass quatity of otc meds and can often be worse than the migraines! I used to suffer from these and started to go med free and suffer through my migraines for a bit. I was also taking Relpax which worked great for me but I ran out - thus the Excedrin. My frequency got smaller when I laid off the otc stuff. Since going gluten free they have been virtually non-existant except when I get my cycle (which I had this weekend).

I definately thought that maybe I had just been taking so much Excedrin, that when I didn't take it I was having caffeine withdrawals.

But I write down everything - what I eat, how I feel, and what time I take any meds. And there doesn't seem to be any direct correlation between my headaches and anything. Sometimes I go 3 days without taking any Excedrin, and sometimes I take it every day for a week straight.

I remember a long time ago (at least 1 1/2 years) they were directly related to my cycle. Which was not regular by any means. Anyways, it turned into one giant, conglomerate mass of headaches on a nearly constant basis. I had talked about migraine meds with my dr. but we were trying to eliminate some potential triggers first. Then I ended up hating him because he incorrectly ordered the celiac sprue blood test which then wasn't covered by my insurance. Salt in the open wound of a useless test. I'm in the process of "interviewing" new docs now...

[Franceen]

Rebound effect is very easy to get....however, I don't think that digestive symptoms are rebound when taking the OTC for migrain.....

Here's an interesting thought: I discovered that SOME (not all) non-individually wrapped American (and others) cheese slices are noted as being gluten-free on lists, websites and on labels. However some OFF BRAND of cheese had on their label that they use a light dusting of flour between the cheese slices to keep them from sticking together too much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I only buy individually wrapped slices.

NOW the interesting thought: I wonder if pills are ever dusted in order to keep them from sticking or flaking, etc? This could be a barley-derived starch and because it isnt' IN THE RECIPE for the med or food - it's a packaging thing instead, they don't have to divulge it in the "inactive ingredients list? SCARY THOUGHT.

SO I have decided that bottles of meds/vitamins, etc that have the little packet of crystals (salt derived) for moisture control are OK. If they don't have that, I assume they could be dusted with something for the same purpose.

NOT SAYING THIS IS DEFINITELY THE CASE, BUT JUST A SUSPICION!

I use as much stuff from Open Original Shared Link as I can - they mostly say on every bottle "no wheat, corn, starch, yeast, sugar, gluten.............etc"

[Kirian]

I did get an email back from Bristol-Myers today that did verify that the Excedrin line is gluten free. I sent back a very polite inquriy explaining how I got sick recently and asking if there is any chance of cc. I did let them know too that I am willing to consider the possibility that I have a sensativity to something else in Excedrin as well. We will see if they respond to this. I will let you guys know if they do and what they say.

Courtney: I see you already thought that out! Man, I really should keep a better log myself. I don't really do it now. I started to at one point and just forgot.

It is so normal to have them correlate with your cycle. That is when they were always the worst for me. When I told me doc that he did say that that was the case for many women.

GREAT idea on looking for a new doc!

~~~~~

Franceen: Wow - that is good to know about the cheese. Jeez, the things we have to contend with!

Very good thought! I didn't even think about that possibility. These do have a little round container inside kinda like the packets. This is silica gel. That is not to say that they don't dust them with something in the facility.

Ok, so...I pulled the lil cansiter out of the bottle and lo & behold there is a website printed on it. Here is what they have to say about what is in these things:

What are they?

Desiccant canisters are small, rigid, cylindrical containers filled with desiccants like bentonite clay and silica gel, aimed at absorbing moisture. They can also contain fills like activated carbon, aimed at controlling odors.

Hmmmm...fills - I wonder if maybe it is something in these canisters!

I am really excited because we just had a vitamin shoppe open up near me!

[sparkles]

Just wanted to add my 2 cents about the headaches... I suffered from migraines for about 40 years and when I went gluten-free, the migraines ended!!!!! I can even eat things that were once triggers... communion wine, chocolate, caffeine..... BUT what I did want to mention is that your symptoms sound like a rebound headache. I had one about 10 years ago. It started as a regular migraine that never really went away. I was taking my migraine meds, aspirin and tylenol just to get through the day. Eventually, after a month of nonstop headache, I went to the doc and she took me off of everything. It took a good month of PURE HELL to finally get over the headache. There was the temptation to just take 2 aspirin but the doc told me that to do that would just start the cycle all over again. So I took nothing and swore that I would never get into that situation again. I had another one several years later. This time it was caused by Imitrex (sp?) and the doc admitted that Imitrex is known for causing rebound headaches. I thought that was a really great invention. Create a med to eliminate the migraine only to discover that the med creates a rebound migraine!!! You should really be checked by a doc. I know that since then I have really been careful about pain meds even over the counter kind and I threw out the Imitrex. But I was lucky, when I finally was dx-ed with celiac disease and went gluten-free, the migraines stopped. I went over 2 years without ever even having a headache. I hope that you too will find that kind of success.

[Kirian]

I assume your post is directed at Courtney and not myself. I did mention above how I used to suffer from rebound headaches and yes, they are nasty lil buggers. However, I have never had a rebound headache cause symptoms like I had been glutened. I agree with Francine that with the digestive issues it is something more.

My migraines have also all but disappeared since going gluten free. I only get them with my period now and even then that is not always the case. This was the first time I have taken Excedrin in a few months. For me to experience rebound headaches I need to be taking it multiple times a day for an extended period of time.

I wasn't too fond of Imitrex myself but for me it was because it caused my nasal and sinus passages to feel like they were on fire. At this year's physical my doc gave me this stuff called Relpax. Works like a charm for me when I do need it. No rebound headaches either!

[Kirian]

Just wanted to add a quick update to this.

I did hear back from the company that produces the dessicant canisters. They were fantastic and very detailed in their response to me - very quick too. They don't use gluten in ANY of their processing whatsoever and their production facility is gluten free too.

So, I guess that bring me back to something in the Excedrin. I still have not heard from Bristol-Myers on my additional inquiry. Ah well, I obviously know that it bothers me and does trigger a gluten reaction so I will just avoid it in the future!

[tarnalberry]

It could be that excedrine isn't really helping your migraines. Caffeine helps some migraines, but not all. (The basic premise is to constrict the blood vessels that have expanded, which is the cause of migraine pain. Sometimes caffeine, in the right dose, works for that.)

While many here have gotten relief from their migraines from going gluten-free, it didn't help me. In fact, I'd been gluten-free (and CF), but when I moved to the PacNorthWest, my migraines got *awful*. They'd last 3-4 days and occur every three or four days. That makes for constant migraine. No fun. After ruling out sinus problems with an MRI, and trying to rule out any other food/environmental allergy (no, not a soy, not peanuts - possibly barometric pressure, which seems to run in the family, what are you going to do about that, especially in this area!), I opted to go on prophylactic drugs. I take Topomax, at 1/4 the regular dosage, actually, and though I do *not* like going with drugs, it keeps the migraines down in frequency significantly, and the severity down as well. (No more worrying that if I get one, I'll be stranded somewhere unable to drive.) I also keep rescue medication with me at all times, just like my asthma inhaler.

It's worth looking into. Migraines can occur unrelated to food intolerances.

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Worrisome thought: do all over-the-counter meds cause rebound symptoms? Cold meds do, right? I was just wondering if Zantac/Prilosec/Nexxium do, too. Anybody know?

[Corkdarrr]

It could be that excedrine isn't really helping your migraines. Caffeine helps some migraines, but not all. (The basic premise is to constrict the blood vessels that have expanded, which is the cause of migraine pain. Sometimes caffeine, in the right dose, works for that.)

While many here have gotten relief from their migraines from going gluten-free, it didn't help me. In fact, I'd been gluten-free (and CF), but when I moved to the PacNorthWest, my migraines got *awful*. They'd last 3-4 days and occur every three or four days. That makes for constant migraine. No fun. After ruling out sinus problems with an MRI, and trying to rule out any other food/environmental allergy (no, not a soy, not peanuts - possibly barometric pressure, which seems to run in the family, what are you going to do about that, especially in this area!), I opted to go on prophylactic drugs. I take Topomax, at 1/4 the regular dosage, actually, and though I do *not* like going with drugs, it keeps the migraines down in frequency significantly, and the severity down as well. (No more worrying that if I get one, I'll be stranded somewhere unable to drive.) I also keep rescue medication with me at all times, just like my asthma inhaler.

It's worth looking into. Migraines can occur unrelated to food intolerances.

Tarnalberry, your post is such a relief to me!

I have been reading countless posts over the past few months about people who's migraines magically (and luckily!) disappeared after going gluten-free. And while mine have definately lessened in frequency, they are still there. And they are still just as severe.

I take a godawful amount of Excedrin, although as I stated earlier in this thread, I really don't think it's a dependency problem. Sometimes I take it every day, and sometimes I go three or four days without it. Either way, when I do get them, they are unbelievably miserable and debilitating. And once they get bad enough, the only thing I can do is take an ambien and sleeeeeeeeep.

Also, how long does the whole rebound thing typically take? If I take Excedrin on a daily basis for a week or two, and then stop for three or four days because I'm not having any problems, does that mean I'm in the clear? I have no idea what the lagtime is on rebound symptoms.

I have an extensive food journal in which I write down everything I eat, all the meds I take, and how I feel at various points throughout the day. I have yet to see a pattern of any types of triggers, though.

I have a consultation with a new dr. this Friday and that's one of my biggest problems as I believe many (if not all) of my other ailments can be solved through this diet and a whole lot of patience.

Is the Topomax something you take on a daily basis or only when you feel a migraine coming on? How long does it take to find the optimal dosage? I just want these headaches to stop. I am in a constant state of awe that I can and do accomplish anything on most days. Sadly, I think I've almost gotten used to being miserable. Plus I"m a highly productive person that just likes to cross things off my list!

Thanks!

Courtney

[hez]

For some reason I cannot take any Excedrin products. They make me sick. I never bothered to look into it. I just switched to a different medicine (I do not get migranies). Maybe your body reacts to something in it like mine. Hopefully, you can find a different medicine that can provide you relief.

Hez

[tarnalberry]

Is the Topomax something you take on a daily basis or only when you feel a migraine coming on? How long does it take to find the optimal dosage? I just want these headaches to stop.

Topomax is a daily preventative - you have to take it daily (twice a day) to keep up blood levels so it'll work. They titer you up to the correct dosage, usually over the course of a month, and I can say that it started to kick in quite noticebly after two weeks. I had a few annoying side effects - primarily tingling in the hands and feet for a while after taking it, and it would make me a bit sleepy, and it lowered my appetite a fair bit. The tingling and appetite suppression went away in about three months, and we switched to 75mg in the evening and 25mg in the morning, and that seems to work fine for the sleepiness. At this point (nine months on it), I would say that I'm not sure I notice any side effects. I do notice virtually zero migraines, and when I do get them, I'm still able to drive! (How's that for significantly reduced symptoms!) (The normal dose is 200mg bid.)

The only downside for me at the moment is that it's expensive. Insurance reimburses me for all but $50/month worth, but still... It's not cheap at all.

There are other options, and Excedrin... is a temporary stopgap at best.