How much caffeine is in Excedrin Tension Headache?
One caplet of Excedrin Tension Headache contains 65 mg of caffeine.
That's about three quarters of a cup of brewed coffee, and 16% of the 400 mg a day the FDA cites for most healthy adults.
Source: DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) · checked 10 Nov 2026
When did you take it?
Taken at 3 pm, about 23 mg is still in you at an 11 pm bedtime. That should not affect most people’s sleep.
Your whole day, every drink, in the free CaffeineIQ check. The iPhone app is coming soon.
Latest time to take it
For an 11 pm bedtime, one caplet of Excedrin Tension Headache taken by about 8:45 pm keeps most people under 50 mg of caffeine through the night. The table works it out for other bedtimes and for how sensitive you are: it is the latest time to take one so that the caffeine left stays under the line all night.
| Bedtime | Very sensitive under 25 mg | Average under 50 mg | Not very sensitive under 100 mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 pm | 1:40 pm | 6:45 pm | Any time |
| 10 pm | 2:40 pm | 7:45 pm | Any time |
| 11 pm | 3:40 pm | 8:45 pm | Any time |
| Midnight | 4:40 pm | 9:45 pm | Any time |
| 1 am | 5:40 pm | 10:45 pm | Any time |
One unit as listed on the label, average clearance (half-life 5 h), 8 hours of sleep. "Any time" means even one at bedtime stays under the line. Follow the label or ask your pharmacist about how much and how often to take it; this table is only about sleep.
How long it lasts
The caffeine from one caplet of Excedrin Tension Headache peaks in your blood about 70 minutes after you take it, at roughly 56 mg. Half of it is gone in about 5 hours for an average adult; that ranges from roughly 3 to 7 hours, and longer in pregnancy or with some medicines.
| Time after | 3 hours | 6 hours | 9 hours | 12 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Still in you | 45 mg | 30 mg | 20 mg | 13 mg |
So one taken at 3 pm leaves about 23 mg at 11 pm. How long caffeine lasts explains the curve.
How it compares
Excedrin Tension Headache is stronger than 15% of the 34 supplements and medicines we track, by caffeine per serving.
To reach 400 mg in a day you would need about 6 of these.
Less caffeine
- Midol Complete 60 mg, 1 caplet
- Butalbital, Acetaminophen and Caffeine (Fioricet) 40 mg, 1 capsule
- Bayer Back & Body 33 mg, 1 caplet
More caffeine
- Amino Energy 100 mg, 1 serving
- Ergotamine and Caffeine (Cafergot) 100 mg, 1 tablet
- G FUEL Energy Formula 140 mg, 1 scoop
Same caffeine: BC Powder, Excedrin Extra Strength, Excedrin Migraine.
FAQ
Is Excedrin Tension Headache high in caffeine?
It is moderate. One caplet of Excedrin Tension Headache contains 65 mg, which is 68% of the 95 mg in an 8 fl oz cup of brewed coffee.
Can I take Excedrin Tension Headache at night?
Earlier is better. Taken at 7 pm, it leaves about 39 mg in an average adult at an 11 pm bedtime. The latest time for an 11 pm bedtime is about 8:45 pm.
How long does the caffeine in Excedrin Tension Headache last?
It peaks about 70 minutes after you take it. Of the 65 mg, about 30 mg is still in you 6 hours later and 13 mg after 12 hours, for an average adult with a 5-hour half-life.
Does Excedrin Tension Headache have more caffeine than a cup of coffee?
No. One caplet of Excedrin Tension Headache contains 65 mg; an 8 fl oz cup of coffee has 95 mg.
Method and limits
The caffeine figure comes from DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine); it is the amount the label lists per unit. The curves use a standard one-compartment model with an average 5-hour half-life and a sleep-friendly line of 50 mg; your own body may clear caffeine faster or slower. How it works has the details.
These are estimates for information, not medical advice. This is a medicine: follow the label and ask your pharmacist or doctor about dosing.
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