Common use

Tylenol is a pain reliever and a fever reducer. Tylenol is used to reduce fever and relieve minor pain caused by conditions such as colds or flu, headache, muscle aches, arthritis, menstrual cramps and fevers.

Dosage and direction

Take Tylenol exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. An acetaminophen overdose can damage your liver.
Adults and teenagers who weigh at least 110 pounds (50 kilograms): Do not take more than 1000 mg at one time. Do not take more than 4000 mg in 24 hours.
Children younger than 12 years old: Do not take more than 5 doses of acetaminophen in 24 hours. Use only the number of milligrams per dose that is recommended for the child's weight and age. Use exactly as directed on the label.

Precautions

Avoid also using other medicines that contain acetaminophen, or you could have an overdose.
Do not give extra-strength Tylenol to a child younger than 12 years old without medical advice.
Your doctor will determine whether Tylenol is safe for you to use during pregnancy. Do not use this medicine without the advice of your doctor if you are pregnant.
Acetaminophen can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are breastfeeding.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medication.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your risk of liver damage while taking Tylenol.

Contraindications

You should not take Tylenol if you are allergic to acetaminophen, or if you have severe liver disease.
Do not take this medicine without a doctor's advice if you have ever had alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis). You may not be able to take Tylenol.
Avoid also using other medicines that contain acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as APAP), or you could have a fatal overdose.
Call your doctor at once if you have nausea, pain in your upper stomach, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes).
Stop taking Tylenol and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling.

Possible side effect

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Tylenol: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
In rare cases, acetaminophen may cause a severe skin reaction that can be fatal, even if you took Tylenol in the past and had no reaction. 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: stomach pain (upper right side); loss of appetite; tiredness, itching; dark urine, clay-colored stools; or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Drug interaction

Other drugs may interact with acetaminophen, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.

Missed dose

Since Tylenol is taken as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical attention. The first signs of an acetaminophen overdose include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, sweating, and confusion or weakness. Later symptoms may include pain in your upper stomach, dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.

Storage

Store at room temperature away from heat and moisture, away from children and pets.