Tylenol (paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen) is a popular American brand of pain reliever and fever reducer, sold by Johnson & Johnson. It is extremely popular because it is available without prescription and it is effective with few side effects, but overdoses of Tylenol are serious and can be fatal. In heavy drinkers, regular use of acetaminophen increases liver damage from alcohol. Unlike NSAIDs, paracetamol is not particularly effective against pain from inflammatory disorders.

Tylenol was discovered by David W. Young, a graduate of Covington Latin School and the University of Kentucky, while working on chemical patents at Standard Oil of Ohio in Cleveland, Ohio. The compound had no apparent use and the patent was granted to Young. He later discovered its use while working in Houston, Texas, at which point he sold the patent to Johnson & Johnson.

Tylenol was introduced in 1955 by J&J subsidiary McNeil Consumer Products Co. as one of the first alternatives to Aspirin, which at that time was being shown to have some negative health effects. It was originally marketed mainly towards children, but soon came to dominate the North American pain-killer market. There is a wide array of different varieties of Tylenol available today including extra-strength, children's doses, longer-lasting, and sleep aiding (as a combination with a sedative antihistamine). In 2005, Tylenol Ultra was introduced, containing 500mg of acetaminophen, the same dosage as Extra Strength Tylenol, but also including 65mg of caffeine. This is due to caffeine's vasoconstricting effects, for which there is some - which concludes "the fixed combination of ... caffeine was statistically significantly superior to the combination without caffeine" disputed - which notes that "benefits assumed for ... caffeine ... are not clearly confirmed in these trials" evidence for additional efficacy.

The patent on paracetamol has expired, and the continued success of Tylenol brand preparations is largely due to marketing, the backing of Johnson & Johnson, and new patented delivery mechanisms such as quick-release and extended-release forms of the medication.

On September 29, 1982, a Tylenol scare began when the first of seven individuals died in metropolitan Chicago, Illinois, after ingesting Extra Strength Tylenol that contained cyanide. While the crime was never solved and Tylenol sales temporarily collapsed, the brand was rebuilt and recovered in only a few years. The scare led to the introduction of tamper-proof packaging for medicines.

Tylenol remains a top seller, controlling about 35% of the pain killer market in North America.

In 2006, studies showed that recommended doses of Tylenol can cause elevation in liver enzymes in healthy adults. - commenting on the (Watkins et al, 2006) study

Tylenol products

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The following is a list of all Tylenol products. - manufacturer's website All of the Tylenol brand products contain Acetaminophen. Note that many of the ingredients tend to overlap among the various products. This may be due to the need to market and sell enough drugs to maintain a profit, though all drugs seem to claim to have different effects. All medicine quantities are derived from half-doses, and should therefore be doubled to determine the proper amount for a full dose.

Headaches, muscle and body pain, arthritis and joint pain

• Tylenol Ultra
  • Acetaminophen, 500 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
  • Caffiene 65mg, vaso-constrictor, stimulant
• Extra Strength Tylenol
  • Acetaminophen, 500 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
• Regular Strength Tylenol
  • Acetaminophen, 325 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
• Tylenol 8 Hour
  • Acetaminophen, 650 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
• Women's Tylenol Menstrual Relief
  • Acetaminophen, 500 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
  • Pamabrom 25 mg, diuretic
• Tylenol Arthritis Pain
  • Acetaminophen, 650 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer

Allergy and sinus

• Tylenol Sinus Congestion & Pain Severe
  • Acetaminophen, 325 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
  • Guaifenesin, 200 mg, expectorant
  • Phenylephrine HCl 5 mg, nasal decongestant

• Tylenol Sinus Congestion & Pain Daytime
  • Acetaminophen, 325 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
  • Pseudoephedrine HCl, 5 mg, nasal decongestant

• Tylenol Sinus Congestion & Pain Nighttime
  • Acetaminophen, 325 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
  • Chlorpheniramine maleate, 2 mg, antihistamine
  • Pseudoephedrine HCl, 5 mg, nasal decongestant

• Tylenol Allergy Complete Multi-Symptom
  • Acetaminophen, 500 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
  • Chlorpheniramine maleate, 2 mg, antihistamine
  • Pseudoephedrine HCl, 30 mg, nasal decongestant

• Tylenol Allergy Complete Nighttime
  • Acetaminophen, 500 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
  • Diphenhydramine HCl, 25 mg, antihistamine
  • Pseudoephedrine HCl, 30 mg, nasal decongestant

• Tylenol Severe Allergy
  • Acetaminophen, 500 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
  • Diphenhydramine HCl, 12.5 mg, antihistamine

• Tylenol Sinus Daytime
  • Acetaminophen, 500 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
  • Pseudoephedrine HCl, 30 mg, nasal decongestant

• Tylenol Sinus Nighttime
  • Acetaminophen, 500 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
  • Doxylamine succinate, 6.25 mg, antihistamine
  • Pseudoephedrine HCl 30 mg, nasal decongestant

• Tylenol Sinus Severe Congestion Daytime
  • Acetaminophen, 325 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
  • Guaifenesin, 200 mg, expectorant
  • Pseudoephedrine HCl, 30 mg, nasal decongestant

Cold, flu, cough

• Tylenol Cold Daytime
  • Acetaminophen, 325 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
  • Dextromethorphan HBr, 15 mg, cough suppressant
  • Pseudoephedrine HCl, 30 mg, nasal decongestant

• Tylenol Cold Nighttime
  • Acetaminophen, 325 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
  • Dextromethorphan HBr, 15 mg, cough suppressant
  • Chlorpheniramine maleate, 2mg, antihistamine
  • Pseudoephedrine HCl, 30 mg, nasal decongestant

• Tylenol Chest Congestion
  • Acetaminophen, 325 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
  • Guaifenesin, 200 mg, expectorant

• Tylenol Cold Severe Congestion Daytime
  • Acetaminophen, 325 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
  • Guaifenesin, 200 mg, expectorant
  • Dextromethorphan HBr, 15 mg, cough suppressant
  • Pseudoephedrine HCl, 30 mg, nasal decongestant

• Tylenol Cold Relief
  • Acetaminophen, 500 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
  • Diphenhydramine HCl, 12.5 mg, antihistamine

• Tylenol Cold Relief Nighttime (liquid)
  • Acetaminophen, 500 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
  • Diphenhydramine HCl, 25 mg, antihistamine

• Tylenol Cold & Flu Severe Daytime (liquid)
  • Acetaminophen, 500 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
  • Dextromethorphan HBr, 15 mg, cough suppressant
  • Pseudoephedrine HCl, 30 mg, nasal decongestant

• Tylenol Cold & Flu Severe Nighttime (liquid)
  • Acetaminophen, 500 mg, pain reliever/fever reducer
  • Dextromethorphan HBr, 15 mg, cough suppressant

Preparations containing codeine

(Note: most of these require prescription)

• No.1 - 300mg acetaminophen, 8mg codeine, 15mg caffeine
• No.1 Forte - 500mg acetaminophen, 8mg codeine, 15mg caffeine
• No.2 - 300mg acetaminophen, 15mg codeine, 15mg caffeine
• No.3 - 300mg acetaminophen, 30mg codeine, 15mg caffeine
• No.4 - 300mg acetaminophen, 60mg codeine

Footnotes

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Johnson & Johnson brands