Tylenol Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Tylenol Tablet contains acetaminophen, a pain reliever and fever reducer. It is used to relieve minor aches and pains, such as those from colds, flu, headache, muscle aches, arthritis, and menstrual cramps, and to reduce fever. Acetaminophen works in the brain to raise pain tolerance and lower fever, with little anti-inflammatory effect. It should be used exactly as directed, and other acetaminophen-containing products should be avoided while taking it.

What is Tylenol Tablet

Tylenol is a pain reliever and a fever reducer. It is used to reduce fever and relieve minor pain caused by conditions such as colds or flu, headache, muscle aches, arthritis, and menstrual cramps. Its generic name is acetaminophen, and it belongs to the miscellaneous analgesics (analgesic/antipyretic) drug class.

Tylenol Tablet uses

• Relief of minor aches and pains due to the common cold
• Headache
• Backache
• Minor pain of arthritis
• Toothache
• Muscular aches
• Premenstrual and menstrual cramps
• Temporarily reducing fever

Benefits of Tylenol Tablet

• Relieves mild to moderate pain from many conditions
• Reduces fever due to colds, flu and other infections
• Does not cause the stomach irritation associated with NSAID products at recommended doses

How Tylenol Tablet works

Acetaminophen works in the brain to raise the level of pain you can tolerate and to act on the body's heat-regulating center to lower fever. It has little anti-inflammatory effect.

Tylenol Tablet dosage

Take Tylenol exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Doses may be taken with or without food. For extended release (Arthritis Pain or Muscle & Body) caplets, swallow each caplet whole with water on an empty stomach; do not crush, chew or dissolve the caplet. Tylenol made for infants comes with its own medicine dropper or oral syringe; use only the provided dosing device to measure an infant's dose. Avoid using other medicines that contain acetaminophen at the same time, or you could have a fatal overdose.

If you miss a dose when taking this medicine regularly, take it as soon as you remember; skip it if it is almost time for the next dose and do not take extra medicine to make up for it.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet
• Caplet
• Extended release tablet
• Chewable tablets
• Orally disintegrating tablets
• Extended-release caplets
• Liquid solutions
• Suspensions

Side effects of Tylenol Tablet

Common

Most people have no side effects, or only less serious ones.

Serious

• Signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Severe skin reaction: skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling
• Signs of liver problems: stomach pain (upper right side), loss of appetite, tiredness, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

Warnings and precautions

• An overdose of acetaminophen can damage your liver or cause death.
•  Severe liver damage may occur if you take more than 4,000 mg in 24 hours, take it with other drugs containing acetaminophen, or have 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day while using it. 
• Do not use with any other product containing acetaminophen (prescription or nonprescription), or you could have a fatal overdose.
•  Acetaminophen may cause severe skin reactions such as skin reddening, blisters or rash. If a skin reaction occurs, stop use and seek medical help right away.
•  Do not use if you are allergic to acetaminophen or any of the inactive ingredients in this product.
•  Do not give this medicine to a child younger than 2 years old without the advice of a doctor.
• Ask your doctor before using Tylenol if you are pregnant. Your doctor will decide whether it is safe for you.
• Acetaminophen can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are breastfeeding.
• Acetaminophen can be used in people with chronic kidney disease without a dose change, but long-term use should be supervised by a physician. People with serious kidney disease should ask their doctor before use.
• Do not use if you have severe liver disease. People with liver disease should consult a physician before use. An overdose can damage your liver.
• Avoid drinking alcohol, as it may increase your risk of liver damage while taking Tylenol. Do not take this medicine without a doctor's advice if you have had alcoholic liver disease or drink more than 3 alcoholic drinks per day.

Storage

• Store at room temperature (15 to 30°C) away from heat and moisture.
• Extra Strength tablets: store between 20-25°C (68-77°F).
• Tylenol Rapid Release (Gelcaps) should additionally be protected from high heat and humidity.
• Infants' and Children's Tylenol Suspensions should additionally be protected from light.
• Keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children.

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling.
• Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have signs of liver problems such as upper right stomach pain, loss of appetite, tiredness, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice.
• In case of overdose, get medical help or contact your local poison control center right away, even if you do not notice any signs or symptoms.
• Stop use and ask a doctor if pain gets worse or lasts more than 10 days, fever gets worse or lasts more than 3 days, new symptoms occur, or redness or swelling is present.

Alternatives

Paracetamol is the same medicine (acetaminophen) sold under names such as Panadol, Calpol and Alvedon. Other brands of acetaminophen listed as related products include Ofirmev and Arthritis Pain Relief.