These two pain relievers may be similar, but Excedrin has a powerful combination not found in Tylenol.
When a headache begins, it can disrupt your whole day if you don’t treat it, but Excedrin Extra Strength starts to work in 15 minutes for some.
Clinical studies have demonstrated that Excedrin Extra Strength relieves headaches better than Tylenol Extra Strength.1 Both Excedrin Extra Strength and Tylenol Extra Strength include acetaminophen, an analgesic that relieves pain and reduces fever. But Excedrin Extra Strength contains two additional active ingredients, aspirin and caffeine.
Aspirin targets pain by blocking the production of pain signaling chemicals called prostaglandins. Caffeine is referred to as an analgesic adjuvant. This means it helps boost the effects for certain pain relievers. In the case of Excedrin, caffeine boosts the effects of aspirin and acetaminophen – making those medications up to 40% more effective.2,3,4
See the chart below for a breakdown of Excedrin Extra Strength vs. Tylenol Extra Strength.
