What Is Tylenol?

Tylenol is the brand name for an over-the-counter medication known as acetaminophen. Tylenol is often used to treat the minor symptoms associated with a number of common illnesses, including colds, flu, fever, joint pain, headaches and other minor aches and pains. Tylenol falls into the analgesics and antipyretics class of drugs, as it is both a pain relieving and a fever reducing drug.

Symptom Relief

Tylenol is indicated for relieving symptoms that are associated with pain or fever. Tylenol can be used to reduce headache pain, joint pain, aches associated with fever and other minor pains and aches. When used properly, Tylenol is considered to be effective and safe, even in children that are as young as 2 months.

Dosage

For regular strength Tylenol products, adults and children over the age of 12 can take as many as two Tylenol tablets every four to six hours without exceeding 12 tablets in a 24-hour period. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 can take up to one tablet every four to six hours without exceeding five tablets in a 24-hour period. For children under the age of 6, consult a physician to get the right dosage information based on age and weight.

Warnings

Care needs to be taken to make sure that the recommended dose for Tylenol is not exceeded. Although Tylenol is regarded as being a safe pain reliever and fever reducer, when taken in quantities that are too great, it can cause damage to the liver.

Preparations

Tylenol is an over-the-counter medication, meaning that no prescription is required for its use. You can purchase Tylenol as a liquid suspension, coated caplet, chewable tablet, gelcab or geltab or as a suppository. The common dosages for most Tylenol products are 325 mg, 500 mg and 650 mg.

Indications

Tylenol or acetaminophen is used to relieve fever as well as to treat minor pains and aches that are associated with a number of conditions. When treating pain that is not associated with inflammation, such as arthritis, Tylenol can be as effective as aspirin. Tylenol does not act by reducing the amount of pain, but rather works to lift the body's pain tolerance so that more pain would be required to be felt. This is the mechanism that allows Tylenol to relieve the feeling of pain from headaches and other aches and pains.

References

• Tylenol Drug Information