Administration
Tylenol is a pain reliever with the active ingredient acetaminophen. According to Tylenol.com, the product is fast acting and gentle on the stomach, unlike other pain relievers like aspirin or ibuprofen. Tylenol is administered orally in capsule, tablet or liquid form. An individual should swallow the dose of Tylenol to begin the processing of the medication.
Absorption
According to RxList.com, Tylenol is almost entirely absorbed by the small intestine as the drug makes its way through the gastrointestinal tract. The medication is then dispersed through the blood within 10 to 90 minutes. The medication works by elevating the pain threshold of the individual. Extended release Tylenol works the same way except part of the caplet contains a special formula that takes longer to become absorbed.
Metabolization
Like many drugs, acetaminophen is metabolized, or processed, by the liver. This occurs through a series of chemical reactions. First acetaminophen binds to a sulphate molecule and a glucuronide molecule, per Medicineet.com. This process is referred to as conjungation, per RxList.com. Taking Tylenol too frequently or in excess amounts can lead to a saturation of the sulphation and glucuronidation pathways per Medicinenet.com. This prevents the molecular bonding that is necessary to remove the acetaminophen from the body. Liver damage can be the result of this situation if it occurs for an extended period of time.
Elimination
Once Tylenol is metabolized by the liver, it is eliminated from the body. RxList.com points out that only 9 percent of it is excreted in the urine, while the rest is often deteriorated by the conjugation process. This means the bonding of sulphate and glucuronide molecules changes the chemical composition of the acetaminophen, leaving the body free of the drug after one to two hours, per RxList.com.
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