Dec 01 2008
The Miracle Drug! Excedrin!!
I unfortunately suffer from the more-than-occasional migraine. It’s a family trait, passed down to my brother and me from my father. I get them most frequently from stress, especially during the approaching exam season. I started getting them when I was in eighth grade and they can be more than debilitating; they can actually make me physically ill from intense nausea. My dad, brother, and I settled for sleeping them off in a dark room, but it was much more difficult to deal with when they last for several days (which they sometimes do). Tylenol and Ibuprofen would only dull the pain, not eliminate it and we didn’t want to get in the habit of taking too much of them every time we had a migraine. We did research and my mom realized that caffeine and a massage were good ways to help get rid of the migraine quicker. However, I wanted more than just tylenol, coffee and a neck rub and I decided to try Excedrin. The Excedrin brand has several different types, and I found the “migraine” pill to be extremely helpful in eliminating my migraine completely within several hours. However, most of my migraines I realized began when I had extreme pressure and cramping in my neck, which would spread. That’s when I tried Excedrin Tension Headache. The addition of acetaminophen and caffeine targeted my muscles in my neck as well as my head, with extra relief. I totally recommend it to anyone who suffers from the kind of migraines I do…it truly is a miracle drug!

Thanks for the tip! I have suffered from migraine for many years, and is always looking for better ways to relieve the pain and other typical symptoms. The single best prescription-free medicine I have ever used to treat migraine is the combination of the Nurofen Plus tablet (200mg ibuprofen and 12.8mg codeine) and an effervescent tablet with 500mg aspirin and 50mg caffeine.
Now, codeine is a bit dangerous as it is addictive and very pleasant to take. But it is what makes the difference between relieving the pain - and removing the pain for me. I find it worth the risk, and worth recommending to others. Just be aware and never take codeine outside the migraine window.