Tylenol may relieve minor aches and pains and reduce fever. It has little anti-inflammatory effect, though, which means it won't do much for pain from inflammatory arthritis.
Regular Strength and Extra Strength Tylenol do not have two layers and contain less acetaminophen per caplet, 325 mg, and 500 mg respectively. Tylenol Arthritis can temporarily relieve other types of pain such as general aches, muscle soreness, toothache, menstrual cramps, achiness during cold and flu, and back pain.
From the #1 Doctor Recommended brand for pain relief and fever reduction, TYLENOL® 8 HR Arthritis Pain Caplets provide fast-acting, temporary relief of minor arthritis, osteoarthritis and joint pain.
He says most patients can safely consume three or even four grams of acetaminophen day-after-day for long periods. “It is when you get to six, seven or eight grams a day that you get into trouble.” An extra-strength tablet contains 500 milligrams.
Tylenol (acetaminophen) is not an anti-inflammatory or NSAID. It relieves minor aches and pains, but doesn't reduce swelling or inflammation. Compared to NSAIDs, Tylenol is less likely to increase blood pressure or cause stomach bleeding. But it can cause liver damage.
This drug is used to treat mild to moderate pain (from headaches, menstrual periods, toothaches, backaches, osteoarthritis, or cold/flu aches and pains) and to reduce fever.
Ibuprofen is more effective than acetaminophen for treating inflammation and chronic pain conditions. Ibuprofen is FDA-approved to treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis whereas acetaminophen may be used off-label for these conditions.
Acetaminophen typically begins to take effect within one to two hours. When should I not take acetaminophen and call my doctor? Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you have serious liver or kidney disease or chronic alcohol use (three or more drinks per day).
TYLENOL® does not affect kidney function the way that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin (Bayer®), naproxen sodium (Aleve®), and ibuprofen (Advil®, MOTRIN® IB) can.
Use hot and cold therapy
Heat and cold treatments can help relieve arthritis pain and inflammation. Heat treatments can include taking a long, warm shower or bath in the morning to help ease stiffness and using an electric blanket or moist heating pad to reduce discomfort overnight.
NSAIDs are the most effective oral medicines for OA. They include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) naproxen (Aleve) and diclofenac (Voltaren, others). All work by blocking enzymes that cause pain and swelling.
But if you need relief every day for pain from osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, acetaminophen may not be a better option than an NSAID — it doesn't work that well against inflammatory pain and, like an NSAID, may slightly elevate blood pressure.
The bottom line
For most adults, the maximum daily dose of Tylenol is 4,000 mg, and for kids, it's 75 mg/kg (but not more than 4,000 mg). Your daily dose of Tylenol includes acetaminophen from all sources – including any prescription and OTC combination medications that contain acetaminophen.
Acetaminophen does not cause the stomach and intestinal ulcers that NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen may cause. However, acetaminophen does not reduce swelling (inflammation) like the NSAIDs do. Consult your doctor for more details and to see which medication might be right for you.
For injuries like a sprain or discomfort from arthritis, Tylenol will not treat the pain as effectively as Advil or Aleve. However, in the case of viral infections in young children and infants, acetaminophen's can lower temperature effectively.
Tylenol is relatively safe when you take the recommended dose. In general, adults can take between 650 milligrams (mg) and 1,000 mg of acetaminophen every 4 to 6 hours. The FDA recommends that an adult shouldn't take more than 3,000 mg of acetaminophen per day unless directed otherwise by their healthcare professional.
In general, people with high blood pressure should use acetaminophen or possibly aspirin for over-the-counter pain relief. Unless your health care provider has said it's OK, you should not use ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen sodium. If aspirin or acetaminophen doesn't help with your pain, call your doctor.
No interactions were found between metoprolol and Tylenol Extra Strength. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.
Pain is chronic when it lasts three to six months or longer, but arthritis pain can last a lifetime. It may be constant, or it may come and go. Chronic pain can make it hard to perform daily activities like cleaning the house, dressing, or looking after your kids.
For an acute injury, such as a pulled muscle or injured tendon, the usual recommendation is to start by applying ice to reduce inflammation and dull pain. Once inflammation has gone down, heat can be used to ease stiffness. For a chronic pain condition, such as osteoarthritis, heat seems to work best.
Does arthritis go away? No, but it can be managed. There is no cure for arthritis. However, treatment advances can help to minimize pain, improve range of motion, and prevent further damage.
The most common triggers of an OA flare are overdoing an activity or trauma to the joint. Other triggers can include bone spurs, stress, repetitive motions, cold weather, a change in barometric pressure, an infection or weight gain.
Walking is recommended for people with arthritis as it's low impact, helps to keep the joints flexible, helps bone health and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.