Tylenol is a pain reliever and fever reducer made of acetaminophen. It's used to treat all kinds of pain, ranging from headaches to arthritis. It comes in liquid or pill form and in different dosage amounts. It's sold over the counter at drug stores, grocery stores and other retailers. Excess doses of Tylenol can lead to liver damage.
According to the Tylenol website, acetaminophen "is thought to relieve mild to moderate pain by elevating your body's overall pain threshold" and helps lower fever by "helping your body eliminate excess heat."
In an April 2008 Tufts Journal article, Ewan McNicol, assistant professor of anesthesiology, says acetaminophen is a painkiller known as a "non-opioid analgesic." McNicol says non-opioid analgesics work by "inhibiting an enzyme known as cyclooxygenase (COX). COX is a catalyst for the conversion of a fatty acid contained in cell walls--arachidonic acid--to substances known as prostaglandins."
Prostaglandins can create pain and fever as well as elevate body temperature. Acetaminophen can therefore reduce pain and fever by blocking production of prostaglandins in parts of the nervous system.
Because Tylenol is broken down by the liver, it can interact with other medications. It's also not advisable to drink alcohol or take drugs while taking Tylenol, as they also have a negative effect on the liver.
