Acetylsalicylic Acid And Acetaminophen Interaction

Acetylsalicylic acid and acetaminophen are medicines used to treat mild to moderate pain and fever. Acetylsalicylic acid, commonly known as aspirin, also treats inflammation and may be used to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Both acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, and acetylsalicyclic acid are fairly safe pain medicines when used in appropriate doses and according to their label instructions.

Acetylsalicyclic acid and Acetaminophen Interaction

There is no drug interaction between acetylsalicyclic acid and acetaminophen. You may take them together with no adverse reaction. Instead, combining these medications might enhance your pain relief or cause a greater reduction in your body temperature when used as a fever reducer.

Acetylsalicyclic Drug Interactions

Although acetylsalicyclic acid does not interact with acetaminophen, it does interact with some other medications, such as blood thinners, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs -- ibuprofen, naproxen, nabumetone -- and some blood pressure medicines, such as lisinopril, metoprolol and furosemide. Consult your physician if you have questions as to whether your particular blood pressure medicine interacts with acetylsalicyclic acid. Taking acetylsalicyclic acid with the blood thinner warfarin could increase your risk for bleeding. Mixing it with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen, increases your risk for developing stomach-related problems, including ulcers and bleeding.

Acetaminophen Drug Interactions

Acetaminophen is safe with most medications but its analgesic effects could be reduced by phenobarbital and Tegretol -- carbamazepine. Also, Questran or cholesytramine, a cholesterol-lowering medication, might block your body's absorption of acetaminophen, resulting in a decreased amount of it in your bloodstream.

Acetaminophen Warnings

Acetaminophen can damage your liver if you take too much of it. You must limit your dose to no more than 4 grams a day. That's equivalent to 12 regular strength, 325mg, Tylenol tablets or 8 extra strength, 500mg, tablets. Excessive alcohol increases your risk for developing liver toxicity. Therefore you should not drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day while taking acetaminophen.

Acetylsalicyclic Acid Warnings

If you have a bleeding disorder, consult your doctor before taking acetylsalicylic acid, which could increase your risk for bleeding. You should also limit your intake of alcohol to less than three drinks a day when using this medication, because heavy drinking increases bleeding risks. Children and teenagers with fever should avoid acetylsalicyclic acid, because it increases their risk for developing Reye's Syndrome, a serious condition in which the brain and liver swells.