Caffeine and Cramps and Excedrin?

Ok, I know that Caffeine can make your cramps worse and more severe, which is why you aren't suppose to have any during the first couple of days. But how then, does Excedrin, a pain medicine I take to RELIEVE cramps, have caffeine in it? You would think this would make the cramps worse but it sends them away even though its main ingredient is caffeine. I am thoroughly confused. Anyone know?

It does work but caffeine also constricts blood vessels and causes are tension (http://www.fwhc.org/health/moon.htm) and it does for me. Cramps are HORRIBLE if I drink coffee or soda or anything.

Caffeine can make the acetaminophen or acetylsalicylic acid (depending on which Excedrin you are using) work better. It has been extensively researched that caffeine acts as an adjuvant for other analgesics. Caffeine is not the MAIN ingredient in these products.....its an add-on to make the othes ingredients more potent. Another possible added benefit is its diuretic effect (can help with bloating). The reason you are told to stay away from caffeine if you have cramps? Because it can increase anxiety.....which can increase cramping (or perceived cramping). When you relax, your cramps feel better.

That is a little weird that the medicine that is there to cure your cramps would make it worse having an ingredient that makes cramps worses lol. Well, I assume that it will work and take your cramp away and you shouldn't worry about the caffeine content, I'm sure the medicine will do what it's designed for. best of luck, bye

not sure all i know is that caffeine gives me gases

I had never heard that caffeine made cramps worse. The reason pain meds have caffeine is three-fold (i) helps absorption of painkiller (ii) gives people a buzz to give them impression of being better, and (iii) seems to have certain analgesic effects against neurological pain (eg headaches and neuralgia).

Hate to tell you this, but so does Midol - a PMS analgesic!

Caffeine is a vaso-dilator, meaning that it relaxes the walls of the veins so blood flows more freely, which is why it works so well on headaches.

The quantities that are in analgesics are far smaller than what you might normally consume through regular coffee consumption.