Tylenol Arthritis: What You Need To Know

Tylenol 8 HR Arthritis Pain is an oral analgesic drug available over the counter without a prescription and helps control mild arthritis pain. It contains the active ingredient acetaminophen, a non-opioid painkiller.

For people with arthritis, analgesics like acetaminophen can significantly improve daily life, reducing painful symptoms, and helping to keep daily functions, work, and activity at a higher level than they can manage otherwise. However, there are some warnings to consider when taking Tylenol Arthritis, or any other drug containing acetaminophen.

Tylenol Arthritis is used in adults 18 and over. Acetaminophen use can increase your risk of liver damage and should not be combined with any other drug, prescription, or over-the-counter containing acetaminophen.

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How Tylenol Arthritis Works

Tylenol Arthritis contains two layers—one that releases quickly for fast relief and one that releases slowly to provide lasting relief of up to eight hours. For these layers to work properly, you must swallow the caplets whole with water. There is a total of 650 mg of acetaminophen in each tablet. Regular Strength and Extra Strength Tylenol do not have two layers and contain less acetaminophen per caplet, 325 mg, and 500 mg respectively.

Acetaminophen is an analgesic, meaning it relieves pain. Acetaminophen is not an anti-inflammatory, so it does not ease swelling. For this reason, Tylenol Arthritis is best for osteoarthritis and not inflammatory types of arthritis such as rheumatoid, reactive, or gout.

Acetaminophen is thought to work by interfering with hormones called prostaglandins, reducing pain sensations within the nerve endings, nervous system, and brain.

Tylenol Arthritis can temporarily relieve other types of pain such as general aches, muscle soreness, toothache, menstrual cramps, achiness during cold and flu, and back pain. As with other acetaminophen-containing drugs, Tylenol Arthritis can also help reduce fevers.

Tylenol Arthritis Ingredients

Tylenol Arthritis caplets each contain 650 mg of acetaminophen and several inactive ingredients. Inactive ingredients are those that help deliver the medication into your body or are byproducts of the manufacturing process. They do not have any medicinal effects. The inactive ingredients in Tylenol Arthritis include:

Carnauba wax
Hydroxyethyl cellulose
Hypromellose
Magnesium stearate
Microcrystalline cellulose
Modified starch
Povidone
Powdered cellulose
Pregelatinized starch
Sodium starch glycolate
Titanium dioxide
Triacetin

Tylenol Warnings

Acetaminophen containing drugs are known to potentially cause liver damage if you take too much. Keep your limit to 4,000 mg per day, especially if you weigh under 150 pounds.

Taking Tylenol Arthritis according to the directions is vital. 

Six caps within 24 hours is the limit, do not take more
Do not take any other drugs with acetaminophen
Avoid drinking three or more alcoholic beverages per day
Do not take if you are allergic to acetaminophen or any of the inactive ingredients
Do not take if you have trouble swallowing large tablets
Consult your doctor if you have liver disease
Get approval from your doctor if you are on blood thinners like warfarin

As with any drug, some side effects are possible. It's vital to seek help for severe side effects, but for less serious ones, you can try treating them at home. Some common, treatable side effects include:

Dry mouth: Drink water throughout the day and avoid alcoholic mouth wash. Speak to your doctor about solutions if dry mouth continues.
Constipation: Try drinking more fluids and eating fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
Light nausea: Lay down and apply a cool compress, drink water, and avoid strong flavors or smells. Tell your doctor if nausea gets worse or does not go away after 72 hours
Itchy skin: Use a moisturizer and talk to your doctor about using an antihistamine

Side effects to tell your doctor about right away include:

Unusual urine or stools, including blood, black, tar-like, or cloudy
Reduced amount of urine
Sharp, intense pain in your lower back or sides
Red pinpricks, hives, or a rash on your skin, which could indicate an allergy
Yellowing of your eyes or skin
Sore throat or fever that you didn't have before taking the medication
Weakness or fatigue that is not normal
Mouth sores, spots, or ulcers
Bleeding or bruising that is not typical

Since severe liver damage is potentially fatal, it's essential to be very careful when taking Tylenol Arthritis. Make sure to follow instructions and know what other drugs you are taking to avoid an overdose. Look at the active ingredients list on over-the-counter medicines and check for "acetaminophen" or "APAP" listed on prescription labels.

Some signs of Tylenol Arthritis overdose may appear over time and not be easily connected to your intake of the medication. You might first experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Liver damage leading to serious health effects like liver failure and death can happen over a few days.

Signs Of A Tylenol Overdose

Diarrhea 
Swollen, painful, or tender upper abdomen or stomach
Nausea and vomiting
No appetite
Sweating 
Pain or cramping in the stomach

Do Not Take With Other Acetaminophen Containing Drugs

To prevent overdose, do not take Tylenol Arthritis with other medicines containing acetaminophen, such as certain cold medications, menstrual pain relief, and decongestants.

How to Take and Store

Adults over 18 can take two caplets of Tylenol Arthritis every eight hours with water. Never crush or cut the caplets, and do not chew them. Swallow the caplets whole, one at a time, to avoid them getting stuck.

Take a maximum of six caplets within 24 hours, without taking any other acetaminophen-containing medications. If you are unsure whether your other medications contain acetaminophen, ask your doctor. Do not take Tylenol Arthritis for any longer than ten days.

Store Tylenol Arthritis in a dry place with a stable temperature between 20-25°C (68-77°F).

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