Tylenol (acetaminophen) is a pain reliever and a fever reducer. Tylenol is used to treat many conditions such as headache, muscle aches, arthritis, backache, toothaches, colds, and fevers. Tylenol may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Paracetamol (International Nonproprietary Name), or acetaminophen (United States Adopted Name), is a widely used over-the-counter analgesic (pain reliever) and antipyretic (fever reducer). It is commonly used for the relief of headaches and other minor aches and pains and is a major ingredient in numerous cold and flu remedies. In combination with opioid analgesics, paracetamol can also be used in the management of more severe pain such as post surgical pain and providing palliative care in advanced cancer patients. The onset of analgesia is approximately 11 minutes after oral administration of paracetamol, and its half-life is 1-4 hours.
Acetaminophen is one of the most common medications found in households. It is used for the treatment of pain and to lower fever. However, the drug manufacturer has recalled preparations of Tylenol this year (2011) due to problems in its manufacturing process and as a result, many stores in the US have no Tylenol available (Nov., 2011). In addition, the new recommended maximum dose per day is being dropped from 4000 mg to 3000 mg because of people taking other medications that have acetaminophen as an added compound. Inadvertently, people taking maximum Tylenol doses were overdosing because they were also taking other medicines at the same time that contained acetaminophen. Tylenol plans to have these new recommended lower doses listed on their products by about January of 2012.
Even though Tylenol has been around for quite a while, it is not entirely clear exactly how it works. It is known to work differently from any other non-prescription medication. Most other non-prescription pain relievers or fever reducers are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Both NSAIDS and Tylenol block the body's production of prostaglandins (naturally occurring chemicals that cause inflammation and fever). However, while NSAIDS block prostaglandin production throughout the body, Tylenol appears to do so just in the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). It may also work by blocking pain signals from nerves or preventing such signals from forming.
Tylenol® (acetaminophen) is one of the most commonly used nonprescription drugs. In adults, Tylenol can provide a number of benefits, such as reduction of fevers and relief of minor aches and pains caused by:
Premenstrual and menstrual cramps
Headaches
Backaches
Arthritis
The common cold.
Tylenol is also approved to treat fevers and minor aches and pains in children and infants. "Off-label" uses for this product can include the treatment of migraines.
Compared to other nonprescription pain relievers, Tylenol is beneficial because it is less likely to cause ulcers and to interact with other medications. However, it may be more likely to cause liver damage, especially when taken at high doses or in people who already have liver damage.
Paracetamol is approved for reducing fever in people of all ages. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that paracetamol only be used to treat fever in children if their temperature is greater than 38.5 C (101.3 F). The efficacy of paracetamol by itself in children with fevers has been questioned and a meta-analysis showed that it is less effective than ibuprofen. Paracetamol has a well-established role in pediatric medicine as an effective analgesic and antipyretic.
Paracetamol is used for the relief of pains associated with many parts of the body. It has analgesic properties comparable to those of aspirin, while its anti-inflammatory effects are weaker. It is better tolerated than aspirin in patients in whom excessive gastric acid secretion or prolongation of bleeding time may be a concern. Available without a prescription, it has in recent years increasingly become a common household drug.
Paracetamol can relieve pain in mild arthritis but has no effect on the underlying inflammation, redness, and swelling of the joint. It is as effective as the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen in relieving the pain of osteoarthritis of the knee.
Regarding comparative efficacy, studies show conflicting results when compared to NSAIDs. A randomized controlled trial of chronic pain from osteoarthritis in adults found similar benefit from paracetamol and ibuprofen.
The efficacy of paracetamol when used in a combination form with weak opioids (such as codeine) has been questioned by recent data studies; the small amount of data available have made reaching a conclusion difficult. Combination drugs of paracetamol and strong opioids like morphine have been shown to reduce the amount of opioid used and improve analgesic effect.
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Tylenol: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
low fever with nausea, stomach pain, and loss of appetite;
dark urine, clay-colored stools; or
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
This is not a complete list of Tylenol side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
In recommended doses, the side effects of paracetamol are mild to non-existent. In contrast to aspirin, it is not a blood thinner (and thus may be used in patients where coagulation is a concern), and it does not cause gastric irritation. Compared to Ibuprofen which can have adverse effects that include diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain paracetamol is well tolerated with fewer side effects. Prolonged daily use increases the risk of upper gastrointestinal complications such as stomach bleeding, and may cause kidney or liver damage. Paracetamol is metabolized by the liver and is hepatotoxic; side effects may be more likely in chronic alcoholics or patients with liver damage.
Like NSAIDs and unlike opioid analgesics, paracetamol has not been found to cause euphoria or alter mood although recent research shows some evidence that paracetamol can ease psychological pain. Unlike aspirin, it is safe for children, as paracetamol is not associated with a risk of Reye's syndrome in children with viral illnesses. Paracetamol use for fever in the first year of life was associated with an increase in the incidence of asthmatic symptoms at 6-7 years, and that paracetamol use, both in the first year of life and in children aged 6-7 years, was associated with an increased incidence of rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema. The authors acknowledged that their "findings might have been due to confounding by indication", i. e., that the association may not be causal but rather due to the disease being treated with paracetamol, and emphasized that further research is needed. Furthermore a number of editorials, comments, correspondence, and their replies have been published in The Lancet concerning the methodology and conclusions of this study. The UK regulatory body the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, also reviewed this research and published a number of concerns over data interpretation, and offer the following advice for healthcare professionals, parents, and care-givers: "The results of this new study do not necessitate any change to the current guidance for use in children. Paracetamol remains a safe and appropriate choice of analgesic in children. There is insufficient evidence from this research to change guidance regarding the use of antipyretics in children."
Chronic users of paracetamol may have a higher risk of developing blood cancer.
User Rating: 10, March 4, 2008 11:10 PM
Tylenol 8 Hour (acetaminophen) for Pain: I only have to use 2 Tylenol 8 pills every morning to keep my Arthritic back pain in check.
User Rating: 9.0, May 10, 2011 5:50 PM
Tylenol (acetaminophen) for Fever: Pain: not very effective. No side effects, easy to use. Fever: definitely a 10. Always helps. This got a high rating due to the fever-reducing.
User Rating: 10, May 9, 2008 2:40 PM
Tylenol (acetaminophen) for Fever: Works great as a fever reducer.
User Rating: 9.0, December 12, 2008 8:51 AM
Tylenol Arthritis Pain (acetaminophen) for Pain: Best pain reliever.
User Rating: 1.0, October 13, 2009 3:36 AM
Tylenol (acetaminophen) for Pain: I was prescribed 1 gram (2 extra strength) by mouth every 4-6 hours for a severe tooth problem, cracked tooth in half, until I see my dentist on Friday. (It's Tuesday.) Does absolutely nothing for the pain.
User Rating: 10, August 20, 2008 10:44 PM
acetaminophen for Fever: Had high fever, took 2 Tylenol extra strength and fever broke within 1/2 hour. You'll sweat a lot as fever breaks but that's normal per my doctor.
User Rating: 1.0, August 5, 2011 4:14 PM
Tylenol (acetaminophen) for Sciatica: Tylenol does nothing for my sciatica. The pain is there all the time.
User Rating: 7.0, March 27, 2009 2:36 PM
acetaminophen for Muscle Pain: Very good medication
User Rating: 9.0, January 26, 2011 11:43 PM
Tylenol (acetaminophen) for Pain: Only over the counter pain med I can take with Crohn's disease. All other pain killers have some degree of aspirin in them. For those with stomach diseases acetaminophen (Tylenol) is the only thing we can take.
May 5, 2011 10:17 PM
acetaminophen for Pain: Tylenol PM helps me so much with my pain at night because at night my back pain is the worst and every once in a while I take a Tylenol PM and I feel great and can sleep well and I also feel better the next couple days.