Caffeine in Medications: What You Need to Know
Common pain relievers and supplements that contain hidden caffeine.
You've cut out coffee, tea, and energy drinks. But did you check your medicine cabinet? Many common medications contain significant amounts of caffeine — sometimes more than a cup of coffee.
Pain Relievers
| Medication | Caffeine per dose | Caffeine-free alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Excedrin (2 tablets) | 130mg | Ibuprofen or acetaminophen |
| Midol | 60mg | Caffeine-free pain reliever |
| Some migraine medications | 40-100mg | Ask your pharmacist for caffeine-free options |
| BC Powder / Goody's | 65mg | Plain aspirin or ibuprofen |
The irony: many people reach for Excedrin to treat their caffeine withdrawal headache — not realizing it contains enough caffeine (130mg) to temporarily relieve the headache while restarting the dependency cycle.
Supplements
| Supplement | Caffeine per dose | Caffeine-free alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-workout supplements | 150-300mg | Caffeine-free pre-workout (citrulline, beta-alanine) |
| Fat burner supplements | 100-300mg | Decaf green tea extract |
| Some vitamin B complexes | 50-100mg | Pure B-complex without caffeine |
| "Energy" supplements | 50-200mg | Check labels carefully |
How to Check
Caffeine in medications is always listed in the active or inactive ingredients. Look for:
- "Caffeine" — obviously
- "Caffeine anhydrous" — dehydrated caffeine, used in pills
- "Guarana extract" — natural caffeine source, roughly 2x the caffeine of coffee beans
- "Green tea extract" — contains concentrated caffeine
What to Do
For pain relief during withdrawal: Use plain ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). Both are effective for headaches and contain zero caffeine.
For supplements: Check every label. When in doubt, search "[product name] caffeine content" before taking it.
For prescription medications: Ask your doctor or pharmacist. Don't stop taking prescribed medication without consulting them.
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