Excedrin is an analgesic or pain killer which is used to reduce fever, pains etc. Excedrin is normally found as tablets. Using analgesic in the normal dose is safe but overdoses do not prove to be safe. Excedrin like the other analgesics does not affect the functioning of the platelets. It does not cause any problems like addiction. Aspirin, acetaminophen and caffeine are the contents of Excedrin. Excedrin can be used in the treatment of pain due to headaches, toothaches, migraine, common cold etc.
Excedrin cannot be consumed if a person has symptoms of chicken pox and flu. It also cannot be used if a person has allergy towards acetaminophen, caffeine and aspirin or in the case of any liver problems, asthma etc. If there are any of these symptoms while using Excedrin, the consumption of this analgesic should be stopped and the person should immediately consult a doctor. Just like any other drug, Excedrin also can cause side effects like coughing, difficulty in swallowing, change in the color of skin etc.
Aspirin is an important analgesic in Excedrin. “Aspirin is a member of a family of chemicals called salicylates.” (Hoffman 2009).
Aspirin can reduce the substances causing pain, fever and swelling in the human body. Aspirin can also be used for diseases affecting cardiovascular systems. But this can be done only after consulting a doctor. Aspirin has been proved good in reducing heart attacks because it helps to reduce blood clotting and thus blood flow to the heart becomes smoother. Aspirin also has some ill-effects. It causes side effects like nausea, vomiting, pain in stomach etc. In children it can cause a serious situation called Reye’s syndrome. It can cause harm to the heart of an unborn baby, decrease its weight and can also cause many other serious problems.
Another analgesic approved in the mid nineteen hundreds is named as acetaminophen. The actual method of reaction of the tablet inside the human body is still not unveiled. It acts as a pain killer as well as a temperature reducing pill, i.e. analgesic and antipyretics. The temperature is lowered by making the central brain to regulate the temperature. The control is given such that a rise in temperature is lowered. The pain killing action is accomplished by raising the threshold leading the pain. So, a higher amount of pain requisition is developed within before the actual pain is felt. The tablet was introduced to the market with the approval of FDA.
The metabolism of acetaminophen is carried out effectively by the liver. Therefore, the increase in enzymes of the liver can reduce the chemical side effects of the tablet. Consumption of higher doses of acetaminophen results in liver injury. The risk is very high in the case of alcoholics as they may be already having liver inflammation. Acetaminophen is as useful as aspirin when dealing with the pain having zero inflammation.
Caffeine is a drug acting as a stimulant on the central nervous system. Stimulation of central nervous system helps in recovering from tiredness and sleepiness along with adding the vigilance immediately. It is a constituent in many of the daily drink habits of people worldwide like tea, coffee, energy boosting drinks, soft drinks etc. The main truth about this drug is that it can be consumed without any prescription and there is nothing illegal when dealing with caffeine.
Caffeine is typically considered as a safe drug consumed across the globe with no limits. The fact about the drug is that the people in the track of consumption show a type of addiction; at times leading to restlessness, headache etc. Doctors sometimes ask to limit or stop consumption of Caffeine in the case of a number of medical aspects. The actuality about the drug is its usage as psycho and metabolic tonic universally.
Reference List
Hoffman, L 2009, How aspirin works, How Stuff Works. Web.