Get Informed: Acetaminophen
Active Ingredient(s)
Acetaminophen
What does it do?
This product is used to reduce pain and fever. It is believed to work by acting on pain and temperature regulation centers in the brain.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Jul-31 4:35 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Jul-30 9:05 PM
Other Names
- Tylenol
- Tylenol 8 Hour
- Tylenol Arthritis
- Tylenol Extra Strength
- Acetaminophen
- Tylenol Arthritis Pain
- Paracetamol
- Tylenol Arthritis Extended Relief
- Children's Tylenol
- Tylenol Childrens
- APAP
- Calpol
- Pain Relief
- Feverall
- Alvedon
- Hedex
- Disprol
- Panadol Actifast
- Codipar
- Calpol SIX Plus
- Panadol Solid
- Paracets
- Perfalgan
- Paldesic
- Medinol
- Infadrops
- Galpamol
- Mandanol
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
- Please log in
- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category
- B
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 07 Nov 1968
- Est US Patients*
- 17,040,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- Yes
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Acetaminophen or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Acetaminophen
- McNeil Expands Recall To Include Additional Lots of Benadryl Allergy Ultratab, Children's Tylenol Meltaways, Motrin, IB, Tylenol Extra Strength, and Tylenol PM
- McNeil Expands Recall To Include Benadryl Allergy Ultratab Tablets and Extra Strength Tylenol Rapid Release Gels
- What Consumers Need to Know About Recalled Liquid Products for Children
- Voluntary Recall of Certain Liquid Children's and Infants' Tylenol Motrin, Zyrtec, and Benadryl Products
- Voluntary Recall of Several Children's Tylenol and Infants' Tylenol Products
- Voluntary Recall of Certain Lots of McNeil Over-the-Counter Products
- Voluntary Recall of All Lots of Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplet 100 Count Bottles
- Recall of Several Acetaminophen Products
- Voluntary Recall of Several Children's and Infants' Tylenol Products
Acetaminophen Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Acetaminophen interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Acetaminophen used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 126,000 patients that use Acetaminophen (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Pain-Generalized | 45% |
mild
severe
|
| Migraine/Headache | 40% |
mild
severe
|
| Osteoarthritis | 24% |
mild
severe
|
| Back/Neck Pain | 17% |
mild
severe
|
| Fever | 12% |
mild
severe
|
| Rheumatoid Arthritis | 8% |
mild
severe
|
| Fibromyalgia | 4% |
mild
severe
|
| Muscle Spasms | 3% |
mild
severe
|
| Nasal/Sinus Congestion | 3% |
mild
severe
|
| Premenstrual Syndrome | 3% |
mild
severe
|
| Restless Leg Syndrome | 2% |
mild
severe
|
| Insomnia | 2% |
mild
severe
|
| Other | 16% |
mild
severe
|
How well does Acetaminophen work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 126,000 users taking Acetaminophen (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iGuard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 77%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Acetaminophen outweigh the bad things.
- 13%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Acetaminophen.
Common Side Effects of Acetaminophen
iGuard regularly polls our more than 126,000 users taking Acetaminophen (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
16% of patients experience side-effects on Acetaminophen
1% of patients experience significant side-effects on Acetaminophen
Most Common Side Effects...
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Abdo Pain/Cramps, Bleeding, Constipation, Diarrhea, Drowsiness, Fatigue, Heartburn/Reflux, Hot Flashes, Insomnia, Kidney Problems, Liver Problems, Muscle Pain/Cramps, Nausea/Vomiting, Tinnitus
Global Patient Feedback for Acetaminophen ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
What does a parent use for a 4 year old with a fever? Also, her doctor recommends a dose of Tylenol before having vaccinations. What is a substitute?
59 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-06-16 11:40:50
Answer/Reply:
My baby just had his two month shots last week and we bought in the Equaline pain and fever reducer. This product is NOT made by the people who make Tylenol. Our ped said it was okay to give to him. We picked it up in CVS. Hope this helps!
22 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-06-18 10:58:29
Question/Comment:
I take Hydrocodone/Acidemephen every 8 hours. I have had 2 unsuccessful cervical fusions and the pain in my head, neck and shoulders is so severe that the medication doesn't seem to help. However, I have tried to take only over the counter medications instead and my pain becomes unbearable then.
If anyone has suggestions I am open to hearing them.
62 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-16 21:37:57
iGuard Answer/Reply:
If you are not finding relief from the over the counter pain relievers, you may need to stay on something stronger. You can ask your doctor if he/she recommends another surgery, and you can also make an appointment with a pain management specialist. Sometimes stronger medications are required and there are many available that can help you.
Posted: 2010-03-28 15:18:20
Question/Comment:
I am currently taking 2 Reg Strenght Tylenol ( 2X325mg)three times a day for arthritis pain. My Dr. agrees that this is a safe dosage. My liver function tests have been normal. I try to keep it to twice a day (i.e.650mg twice a day) when the pain is well controlled. Can I keep this up indefinitely?
78 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-25 08:05:51
iGuard Answer/Reply:
This is a safe dose of Tylenol. The maximum recommended dose is 4000 mg daily, though some doctors recommend a maximum daily dose of 2000 mg for certain patients. You are currently taking 1950 mg. If you are going to stay on Tylenol, it would be a good idea to continue to have your liver function monitored on a regular basis and talk to your doctor about which dose he or she would like you to take.
Posted: 2010-01-29 11:15:09
Question/Comment:
tylenol doesn't really do the job for me especially when i'm on my menstrual cycle i be needing something that's gonna nock out the pain not just keep staying there and tylenol doesn't do the job.
31 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-11-30 04:26:29
Answer/Reply:
try using ascriptin red or blue box . blue is stronger
67 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-02 17:24:22
Question/Comment:
I Have Been Taking Tyenol For A While, An It Helps With The Pain Alot.
46 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-13 21:04:37
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
48
Patient Comments About
Acetaminophen