Acetaminophen (Common: Tylenol)

Used as a common pain reliever and fever reducer.

Background: Acetaminophen (common: Tylenol) is a very common over-the-counter medicine for fever and pain. It was inadvertently discovered in the late 1800s in Europe when a febrile person was given a derivative of coal tar to treat parasitic worms. The parasites did not go away, but the person's fever went down. From that, paracetamol was developed. In the 1950s, the same medicine was marketed for pain and fever in the United States as acetaminophen (Tylenol). The rest is history.

Tylenol kills pain by working the central nervous system - not at the site - to decrease pain. Interestingly, no one has been able to figure out exactly how it works.

Acetaminophen

OTHER NAMES: APAP,  Paracetamol (Europe), Tylenol

REPORTED USES

General: Antipyretic (lowers fever), analgesic (decreases pain). It is NOT an anti-inflammatory.

Respiratory: Colds, ear pain and sore throat

Cardiovascular: N/A

GI: Toothache

GU: Menstrual cramps 

Musculoskeletal: Muscle aches, backaches, pain, osteoarthritis

Neurologic: Headaches

Other: Fever reducer

Forms: Liquid, liquid gels, caplets, effervescent, chewable

Notes: This is not an inflammatory but does have fever-reducing and pain-killing properties

Side Effects: Rare side effects, long-term use - liver problems, skin reaction, anemia, renal disease (long-term use), nausea, headache​

Caution/Contraindications: Liver disease or impairment, kidney disease, alcohol overuse, chronic malnutrition, known hypersensitivity

Adult Dosages: As directed

How much you use depends on your condition. Start low (325 mg) if you can and increase the next dose if the initial dose is not effective enough.

• Regular Strength and Extra Strength Acetaminophen: Comes in 325-500 mg tablets respectively: Usually 1-2 mg every 4-6 hours. The oral Solution comes in a concentration of 160/5 ml oral solution - 2-3 tsp every 4-6 hours.

  Tylenol Arthritis extended release comes in 650 mg dose - Take one every 8 hours.

The total maximum dose 3250-4000 mg in 24 hours.

There is now an over-the-counter medicine that has both acetaminophen (common: Tylenol) in it for pain and fever AND ibuprofen (common: Advil, Motrin) for inflammation. Many times, pain, fever, and inflammation accompany one another. So, with this, you may get the best of all worlds. 

Recommendations: Most generics of acetaminophen are less expensive and are acceptable as substitutes (although, as of this writing, there is not yet a Tylenol Arthritis [650 mg] generic). It is also important to note that Tylenol is often a component of multi-symptom cold and flu OTC medicines. If you take a multi-symptom medicine you may not need any Tylenol or NSAID like ibuprofen. READ LABELS!

DO NOT EXCEED RECOMMENDED DOSES WITHOUT DISCUSSING WITH YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER