How Does Tylenol PM Work?

Introduction

When your body is experiencing pain, it can be hard to get the sleep you need. Whether it be a headache, backache or other aches and pains, sometimes it can be difficult to get the rest your body needs to heal. Tylenol PM works to both relieve the pain that you are feeling, as well as help your body fall asleep so that you can get better. Tylenol PM achieves this by using two main ingredients, acetaminophen and diphenhydramine HCl.

Acetaminophen

When it comes to aches and pains, most pain relievers, including Tylenol PM, rely on acetaminophen to help relieve the pain. Tylenol PM uses between 500mg and 1000mg of acetaminophen in each dose. Acetaminophen is a non-opioid analgesic which works by partially blocking an enzyme called cyclooxygenase (COX). COX helps transform fatty acids in the cells to prostaglandins, and prostaglandins cause pain and inflammation in the cells. Blocking the COX keeps the cells from sending pain signals to the brain when they get damaged.

Diphenhydramine HCl

Tylenol PM also contains diphenhydramine HCl which helps your body fall asleep. It does this by acting as a sedative to the body. Diphenhydramine HCl helps encourage the body to produce melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland which turns the body from being awake to wanting to fall asleep.

Resources

• Tylenol PM Website