Tylenol Three is the brand name for acetaminophen combined with codeine. Codeine is a potent narcotic pain reliever; the presence of acetaminophen increases the pain relieving effects of the codeine, which allows for lower doses of codeine to be administered. This medication can be used to treat moderate or severe pain but it does have many side effects.
Gastrointestinal
Tylenol Three has many different side effects which affect the gastrointestinal system, EMedTV reports. Patients taking this combination of codeine and acetaminophen may experience abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Codeine, like all narcotic pain relievers, also inhibits gastrointestinal motility. This can result in digested foods passing more slowly through the intestines, causing constipation. The constipation is usually mild, however, and can be treated with laxatives.
Central Nervous System
Tylenol Three can cause a mild sense of euphoria, which is caused by codeine activating neurons in the brain which respond to opioid compounds. Tylenol Three can also result in depression of the central nervous system, which can result in dizziness, drowsiness and a feeling of being light headed, Drugs.com explains. These symptoms can be exacerbated by the consumption of alcohol or other sedating medications and typically affect patients who are upright more than those who are not ambulatory. Patients should avoid operating heavy machinery while taking Tylenol Three. When taken in high doses, Tylenol Three can cause slowed breathing, which may ultimately be fatal.
Liver Damage
Acetaminophen is metabolized by the liver and can result in liver damage if taken in high doses. This is particularly dangerous because acetaminophen is found in many other medications, including over-the-counter pain relievers and cough syrups. Consumption of large quantities of acetaminophen may result in abdominal pain, vomiting and jaundice, which is marked by yellowing of the whites of the eyes and of the skin. Patients may also notice darkening of the urine.
Dependence and Tolerance
Codeine is a narcotic pain reliever, which means that it carries the risk of tolerance and dependence for patients using the medication, RxList notes. Patients can become psychologically and physically dependent on Tylenol Three, particularly if the medication is taken for extended periods of time. Tolerance, in which more and more of the drug must be taken to have an effect can also occur with long-term use. Patients who find themselves taking higher doses of Tylenol Three or who take it with increasing frequency may be experiencing tolerance or dependence.
Prevention
In order to prevent abuse of Tylenol Three, patients who are taking this medication should avoid increasing their dose without the approval of their doctor. Long-term use of Tylenol Three can make the brain physically dependent; cessation of the medication will then produce withdrawal symptoms. In order to ameliorate these effects, patients may need to gradually decrease the dose that they take.
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