Advil Migraine Side Effects, Dosage And Reviews

What Is Advil Migraine (Ibuprofen)?

Advil Migraine is a migraine medication that is classified as an NSAID. NSAIDs stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs treat migraine attacks by blocking physiological processes once the attack has began.

Advil Migraine is a liquid-filled capsule that contains Ibuprofen, which allows for faster absorption compared to its tablet form. Advil Migraine does work for migraine attacks. Other members of NSAIDs include aspirin and naproxen (Aleve).

Is Advil Migraine And Ibuprofen The Same?

Advil Migraine and Ibuprofen are the same. Advil Migraine is the brand name of Ibuprofen. Hence, both Advil Migraine and Ibuprofen are equally effective and they are not different in terms of efficacy or medical strength. As Advil Migraine only contains Ibuprofen, it does not contain paracetamol. So for the record, Advil Migraine and Advil are the same and there are no differences!

Advil Migraine is clinically tested to be safe in treating migraine pain and light sensitivity.

What Are The Ingredients Of Advil Migraine?

According to the Advil Migraine website, the active ingredient of Advil Migraine consist of 200mg of solubilized ibuprofen.

What Is The Recommended Advil Migraine Dosage?

The recommended dosage of Advil Migraine for adults is two capsules of 200mg. You should only take Advil Migraine once every 24 hours, but it is important to consult a doctor before administering it to a child. Quick absorption is crucial for migraine medications to work effectively when the first signs of an attack appear.

How Long Does Advil Migraine Stay In Your Body?

Advil Migraine stays in your body for 4 to 6 hours. However, it depends on how fast your body metabolizes the drug. Advil Migraine can stay in your body for up to 12 hours.

How Does Advil Migraine Help Migraine Symptoms?

Migraine is associated with the natural production of prostaglandins, which are lipids produced by the body at the site of infection or injury to aid in blood clotting. However, in migraine patients, these lipids have been found to dilate arteries in the brain, leading to migraine attacks.

Migraine that produces dysarthria accompanied by aura are commonly identified as migraine with brainstem aura, previously known as basilar-type migraine. According to experts, this type of migraine is thought to originate in the brainstem, located at the base of the brain, and may also lead to other symptoms.

Imagine a “pain messenger” traveling on a highway towards the brain but coming to a sudden stop at a railway crossing where a freight train passes by. Ibuprofen in Advil Migraine prevents migraine attack by preventing the brain from receiving the chemical signal that transmits pain impulses to the brain and nerves. This reduces the usual swelling and pain associated with migraine. In this analogy, the train, or Ibuprofen, stops the pain before it can reach the nervous system.

Should I Use Advil Migraine, Aspirin Or Paracetemol (Panadol)?

If you are experiencing tension headache symptoms, you can use both Advil Migraine (Ibuprofen), aspirin or Paracetemol (Panadol). However, if you are experiencing a migraine attack, Advil Migraine (Ibuprofen) will help treat the migraine attacks. Generally, Advil Migraine provides much needed pain relief for migraine pain. If you are experiencing migraine attack pain, you should be taking Advil Migraine instead of Panadol (Paracetemol). Advil Migraine is clinically proven to treat migraine symptoms, such as light sensitivity, nausea etc.

Does Advil Migraine Contain Caffeine?

One in three people finds that caffeine can trigger an attack. You might be wondering if Advil contains caffeine, and the answer is no. Advil Migraine does not contain caffeine.

Chemicals like serotonin, prolactin, and angiotensin can stimulate the production of these prostaglandins. This is why migraine is often associated with sleep, stress, and dietary choices. For instance, many people experience “weekend migraine” due to sleeping in later than usual.

Skipping a morning cup of coffee also plays a role since caffeine can disrupt the production of adenosine. This chemical reduces electrical activity in the brain and tends to increase during migraine attacks. Caffeine withdrawal can lead to a sudden increase in blood flow to the brain, triggering an attack. This will be helpful for people who wonder if coffee can “treat migraine attacks.”

Should you then consume caffeine with Advil Migraine? While some people experience migraine pain relief from caffeine, you should weigh out the side effects of caffeine and Advil Migraine at the same time.

Can I Take Advil Migraine With Alcohol?

You should not take Advil Migraine immediately after taking alcohol. Taking Advil Migraine with alcohol can raise your risk for serious side effects, such as gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. You may experience severe side effects, such as kidney or liver problems. You should wait at least 10 hours after taking Advil Migraine before drinking alcohol.

How Does Advil Migraine Compare To Other Drugs?

When it comes to treating migraine attacks, doctors usually recommend starting with triptans. However, if a patient can’t take triptans, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Advil may be suggested.

Which Is Better: Advil Migraine Or Triptans

One advantage of NSAIDs is that they are often less expensive than triptans. In the limited studies that have directly compared a specific NSAID with a triptan, the NSAID has shown similar effectiveness, if not better.

Combining an NSAID with an oral triptan may provide even better relief than using either medication alone. There is also a prescription oral medication available that contains both an NSAID (naproxen sodium) and a triptan (sumatriptan). It’s important to discuss all the medications you’re taking with your doctor, including over-the-counter ones, to prevent potential interactions or the risk of worsening side effects. This is considered as an over-the-counter (OTC) migraine cocktail.

It’s worth noting that using NSAIDs excessively, more than 10 to 15 days per month, can lead to a condition called medication overuse headache. So it’s important to follow your doctor’s guidance and not exceed the recommended usage of NSAIDs.

Why Do I Have Migraine Pain After Taking Advil Migraine?

If you experience migraine pain after taking Advil Migraine, it could be because you are experiencing medication overuse headaches, or rebound headaches. Medication overuse headaches, also referred to as rebound headaches may happen to you if you overuse migraine medications to alleviate headaches or migraine attack pain. While pain relievers provide respite for sporadic headaches, exceeding a few days of weekly usage can aggravate the headaches or migraine pain instead.

Side Effects Of Taking Advil Migraine

Common side effects of Advil Migraine include:

• Upset Stomach
• Nausea/Vomiting
• Headache
• Diarrhea/Constipation
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness

Some of these adverse effects are commonly found in NSAIDs as NSAIDs can irritate the lining of the stomach or intestines, and this can be problematic for individuals with conditions like peptic ulcer disease, acid reflux (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome, or other gastrointestinal disorders.

In rare cases, NSAIDs can have an impact on kidney or liver function, but this is more likely to happen when someone takes an NSAID daily or almost every day.

It’s important for patients with a history of heart attack or stroke to consult their healthcare provider before taking NSAIDs, as these medications can increase the risk of these conditions. Combining NSAIDs with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may also raise the risk of stomach bleeding. Additionally, individuals who are taking blood thinners should avoid NSAIDs.

Is Advil Migraine Suitable For Me?

Some people find NSAIDs to be consistently effective. However, these drugs typically are more useful when taken early in the migraine attack.

Be sure to discuss with your doctor whether you are a candidate for using NSAIDs to treat your acute migraine symptoms. It’s a good idea to discuss any medications, supplements, vitamins, and non-medication treatments you use. That way, your doctor has a full picture of your migraine management.

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Disclaimer: This article is just a guide and not to be treated as medical advice. Before trying a new medication or taking Advil Migraine, please discuss with your doctor and use discretion before proceeding.

References:

This article is adapted from the content written by Christine, one of our MB Volunteers.

1. https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/nsaids-migraine/
2. https://www.migraineagain.com/migraine-babble-words-get-jumbled
3. https://migrainebuddy.com/how-does-caffeine-trigger-migraine/