TechMYTH OR FACT?
5 Common Medications That Can Mess With Your Sleep
Painkillers such as Excedrin and Motrin commonly contain caffeine that can disrupt sleep for up to eight hours, according to one doctor; check the label.
On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on Wake Up, AmericaPublished
Photo: The original uploader was J.smith at English Wikipedia . · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 2.5The Short: the best minute of this segment, cut vertical for your thumb. More about this Short
At a glance
- First reported by The New York Times: “5 Common Medications That Can Mess With Your Sleep”, with reporting from Dr. Mayank Shukla.
- Covered on BBN on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 5:40 AM ET on Wake Up, America, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- The New York Times5 Common Medications That Can Mess With Your Sleep
- Dr. Mayank ShuklaMedications that can Interfere with Sleep facts used on air
What BBN said about it
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentMy myth: Excedrin before bed is just a painkiller. I take one every night, and I sleep like a champion.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentMyth. Dr. Mayank Shukla says over-the-counter painkillers like Excedrin and Motrin commonly contain caffeine.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentCaffeine? In my headache pill?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIt can disrupt sleep for up to eight hours.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentYou've been swallowing a tiny espresso at bedtime. Every night. With a glass of water, like that makes it decaf.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentWait, that's amazing. It's a whole bedtime latte, and it fits in my hand.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentCheck the label, and talk to your doctor before changing any medication.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the pill is the coffee. I'm taking it with a coffee, to be safe.
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Photo: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio - SpaceX · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: Ka Kit Pang · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
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From the archive: everything BBN aired on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 · the Tech archive · all months
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