Why does Excedrin smell like vinegar? (+1 reasons)
By
Ivan Kahwa
Author bio
Mr Ivan Kahwa is a chemist and phytopharmaceutical scientist with expertise in chemistry, pharmacology, phytochemistry, and Nanobiotechnology. He writes and reviews content on these topics.
Mr Ivan Kahwa’s Highlights:
Guest Researcher at the University of Leipzig, Senior Research Fellow/Scientist, and Lecturer at the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Professional Experience:
Mr Ivan joined PHARMBIOTRAC as a research fellow/scientist during his master of science tenure. He contributed to the development of most of the phytopharmaceutical products in the project. Furthermore, he participated in carrying out the pharmacological activities of the developed products in laboratory animals such as mice and rats in order to develop proper doses hence leading to pre-clinical studies.
With the above relevant research experience, Ivan started to work with the University of Leipzig on collaborative projects with Mbarara University to develop the chemistry of Ugandan Medicinal plants and their pharmacological activities. This was coupled with several consultative positions by different German NGOs. Mr. Kahwa is also a supporting in the teaching and learning at the Departments of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
With the increase in antimicrobial resistance globally, Ivan retooled his thinking towards developing new naturally derived antibiotic regimens from Ugandan propolis with the assistance of nanotechnology to improve their delivery to microbial cells. Kahwa has also published over 28 articles in peer-reviewed journals and he is currently reviewing for many journals.
Education:
2023-2027: PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences (ongoing) with a focus on Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Nanobiology at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
2022: 2Msc. in Pharmacognosy and Natural Medicine Science at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
2018: Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Publications:
▪ Iqbal, S., Jabeen, F., Kahwa, I., & Omara, T. 2023. Suberosin Alleviates Thiazolidinedione-Induced Cardiomyopathy in Diabetic Rats by Inhibiting Ferroptosis via Modulation of ACSL4-LPCAT3 and PI3K-AKT Signaling Pathways. Cardiovascular Toxicology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-023-09804-7
▪ Gupta, A. K., Yadav, R., Sharma, S., Sawale, J., & Kahwa, I. 2023. Anti-ageing Activity and Antioxidant Activity of Methanol Extracts of Leaves and Flowers of Salvia officinalis and Rosmarinus officinalis. Journal of Young Pharmacists, 15(3), 448–455. https://doi.org/10.5530/jyp.2023.15.60
▪ Tolo, C.U., Kahwa, I., Nuwagira, U., Weisheit, A. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Medicinal plants used in treatment of various diseases in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 25, pp.1-16.
https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/4683
▪ Kahwa, I., Ajayi, C.O., Yadav, R., Chauhan, N.S., Shah, K., Abdelgadir, A.A., Shegena, E.A., Daniel, S., Omara, T., Asiimwe, J.B. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies as an invaluable approach for correct identification of medicinal plants: The case of Artemisia vulgaris L. substituted for Artemisia annua L. in Western Uganda. TMR Integr Med, 7, p.e23004.
https://doi.org/10.53388/TMRIM202307004
▪ Nalimu, F., Oloro, J., Kahwa, I. and Ogwang, P.E., 2021. Review on the phytochemistry and toxicological profiles of Aloe vera and Aloe ferox. Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 7, pp.1-21.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-021-00296-2
▪ Elamin, O.H.S., Ali, M.A., Elgezuli, I.A.A., Bashir, M.A. and Kahwa, I., 2021. Diagnosis of pre-and post-treatment of echinococcus granulosus with counter current immune electrophoresis and bacterial co-agglutination. Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 11(02), pp.88-94.
https://doi.org/10.5799/jmid.951600
Published book Chapter
▪ Kahwa, I., Ayesiga, I., Nakalema, S., Alinaiswe, R., Mbabazi, R. and Iqbal, S., 2023. Natural products in the management of onchocerciasis. In Natural Products in Vector-Borne Disease Management (pp. 63-80). Academic Press. Book Chapter.
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91942-5.00012-4
Submitted manuscripts Under Review:
▪ Comparison of the Wound Healing Activity of the Leaf and Leaf Ash Extracts of Vernonia amygdalina in Rats. Journal name: Clinical Phytoscience
▪ Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal plants used in the management of cancer in Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Herbal Medicine
▪ Ethnobotanical survey and phytochemical screening of medicinal plants used in treatment of epilepsy by PROMETRA-Uganda Traditional Health Practitioners in Mpigi District, Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Submitted book chapters under review
1.Book title: Algae as a Natural Solution for Water-Food-Energy Nexus, Section 4: Microalgae and cyanobacteria for food applications, Chapter 4.6: Safety, toxicological and allergenic aspects of using algae for food. Authors: Christine Kyarimpa, Tom Omute, Caroline K. Nakiguli, Alice V. Khanakwa4, Christopher Angiro, Ivan Kahwa, Fortunate Ahumuza, Timothy Omara*. Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore.
2.Book title: Nutraceuticals Inspiring the Contemporary Therapy for Lifestyle Diseases. Chapter: Nutraceutical applications of Seaweeds and their Phytocompounds in Nutrition and Treatment of Diseases. Authors: Ivan Kahwa, Timothy Omara , Innocent Ayesiga , Gael Noel Neh Neba Ambe , Zehbanaz Javidbhai Panwala , Rachel Mbabazi , Shabnoor Iqbal , Christine Kyarimpa , Christine Betty Nagawa , Kamal Shah ,Nagendra Singh Chauhan* Publisher: CRC Press
You can view my works on the following professional sites:
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ivan-Kahwa
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tOwrvqoAAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6440-3437
Linkedin: https://de.linkedin.com/in/ivan-kahwa-865450159
In this article, we will discuss the ingredients in Excedrin that give off a vinegar-like smell due to improper storage conditions. We will also discuss alternative therapies which can be used instead of Excedrin for migraine attacks.
Why does Excedrin smell like vinegar?
Excedrin smells like vinegar due to the degradation of aspirin. Aspirin present in Excedrin is acetylsalicylic acid. Due to its degradation, it releases acetic acid that gives a peculiar vinegar-like smell. You should not consume Excedrin if it gives a bad odour (1).
Excedrin may give a vinegar-like smell if it is not stored in adequate storage conditions. Due to temperature abuse and humidity aspirin will begin to degrade. Therefore, you must store Excedrin in a tightly closed container at room temperature.
Excedrin also contains caffeine and paracetamol, however, no literature reports their degradation product to smell like vinegar. Although it will not produce any toxicity, the guidelines suggest that you should discard Excedrin immediately.
Does a vinegar-like smell affect the effectiveness of Excedrin?
The effectiveness of Excedin decreases when it begins to give a vinegar-like odour. However, toxicity is not reported. As aspirin converts to acetic acid outside the body, it loses its effectiveness and may not provide symptomatic pain treatment.
Although two other ingredients, caffeine and paracetamol, are also present in Excedrin, it would not be possible for a patient to take foul-smelling medication. The manufacturer of Excedrin and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also guides us to discard Excedrin (2).
What does research suggest?
According to a study conducted to evaluate the thermal decomposition of aspirin to salicylic acid and acetic acid, the researchers found a directly proportional relation between temperature and salicylic acid concentration.
This means that as the temperature increased, the rate of conversion of aspirin to salicylic acid and acetic acid also increased. The experiment was conducted at different temperatures including 30°C, 45°C, 60°C, 75°C, and 90°C (3).
What are the correct storage conditions for Excedrin?
To reduce the chances of aspirin degradation to acetic acid, you should follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for proper storage of Excedrin.
- Store Excedrin at room temperature (20-25°C) and relative humidity.
- Store Excedrin at a location where the container will not be exposed to excessive heat and moisture.
- Close the container appropriately. Do not leave the cap open.
- Keep Excedrin out of the reach of children and pets.
- Do not use Excedrin past its expiry date.
What are the alternatives to Excedrin if it smells like vinegar?
If you perceive that Excedrin is giving a vinegar-like smell then you should stop taking Excedrin immediately. Aspirin is one of the active ingredients of Excedrin and has a pharmacological effect. However, acetic acid has no such use.
After consulting your doctor, you may opt for other treatment strategies. Excedrin is an over-the-counter medication, often prescribed for migraine attacks. You may use the following medicines instead of Excedrin after consulting your doctor:
Acetaminophen
Excedrin contains acetaminophen along with aspirin and caffeine. You may take acetaminophen (1000 mg) alone to get relief from the pain. However, acute ingestion of more than 150 mg/kg or 12 grams of acetaminophen increases the occurrence of hepatotoxicity (4).
Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen (400 mg), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), may be taken instead of Excedrin. However, you should never take Excedrin and ibuprofen together as it may cause gastrointestinal complications.
Sumatriptan
It is safe to give sumatriptan (50 mg) intravenously, subcutaneously, or orally for the treatment of migraine and associated headaches. Sumatriptan proves more effective if it is administered immediately after the onset of a migraine attack (5).
As a pharmacist, I always advise my patients to store their medications under appropriate storage conditions. Additionally, you should avoid using Excedrin past its expiry date or shelf-life.
Excedrin gives off a vinegar-like smell, however, you may not notice such degradations for other drugs. Therefore, it is always safe to discard your medicines appropriately, rather than use drugs that have no beneficial effect.
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References
1.-
Marsella G. Aspirin. ChemMatters, February. 1993. https://www.teachnlearnchem.com/chemmatters-feb1993-aspirin-marsella.pdf
2.-
Karch AM. Waste not?. AJN The American Journal of Nursing. 2008 Jul 1;108(7):86-7. https://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Fulltext/2008/07000/Waste_Not_.37.aspx
3.-
Karimirad R. Exploring the Effect of Temperature on the Concentration of Salicylic Acid in Acetylsalicylic Acid. https://chemrxiv.org/engage/api-gateway/chemrxiv/assets/orp/resource/item/653b3f3348dad2312073e584/original/exploring-the-effect-of-temperature-on-the-concentration-of-salicylic-acid-in-acetylsalicylic-acid.pdf
4.-
Agrawal S, Khazaeni B. Acetaminophen toxicity. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441917/
5.-
Brar Y, Hosseini SA, Saadabadi A. Sumatriptan. InStatPearls [Internet] 2023 Nov 12. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470206
