Tylenol
® (
acetaminophen) is a non-prescription pain reliever and fever reducer. It is one of the most commonly used non-prescription medications. Compared to other non-prescription pain relievers, Tylenol 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 very high doses or in people who already have liver damage.
This article refers to Tylenol that is taken by mouth for adults and children age 12 and older. For information on Tylenol for younger children or infants, see
Children's Tylenol and
Infant Tylenol.
Tylenol is made by McNeil Consumer Healthcare. Many generic versions are available, made by several different generic manufacturers.
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.
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