How long does it take tylenol to work?
After taking Tylenol when in pain, the next question most people ask is how long it will take for the drug to work, the question is for them to know how soon they can get relief from their pain or ache. Tylenol, just like some medications do not publish the length of time it will take for the drug to work so you might be confused.
In this article, we will answer the question based on medical research. We will also explain the drug and how it works in the body.
WHAT IS TYLENOL AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
Tylenol also known as acetaminophen is an over-the-counter drug that can be used to relieve fever and pain. This drug is classified as an analgesic (pain reliever) and an antipyretic (fever reducer).
According to the approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Tylenol can be used to treat:
- Menstrual cramps
- Backache
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Colds
- Tooth pain or ache
- Minor arthritis pain.
The drug works in the part of the brain responsible for regulating body temperature (hypothalamus) to reduce fever. To help relieve pain, Tylenol works on the central nervous system. You can get Tylenol in many forms like capsules, tablets, liquid gels, chewable tablets, liquid suspension and dissolve packs.
However, you should know that Tylenol does not help with inflammation or swelling like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) do.
FORMS FOR TYLENOL
Tylenol comes in different forms like:
- Tablet – 325 mg and 500 mg
- Dispersible tablets – 80 mg and 160 mg
- Chewable tablets – 80 mg
- Extended–release tablets – 650 mg
- Capsules – 500 mg
- Oral solution – 80 mg/0.8 ml, 100 mg/ml, 160 mg/5 ml, 325 mg/5 ml, 500 mg/15 ml, 1000 mg/30 ml.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TYLENOL TO WORK?
To get an idea of the length of time it will take Tylenol to work, we will try to answer based on the product. There are many factors that will determine how long it will take for Tylenol to work and some of them are formulation and the method of drug consumption.
1. Tylenol Tablets (Regular Strength and Extra Strength)
These are the most popular tablet products for Tylenol. They are the tylenol regular strength tablets and tylenol extra strength caplets. According to a study by the National Library of Medicine in 2000, the length of time for you to get meaningful pain relief when you use Tylenol tablets is 60 minutes. This time will be shorter if the pain is mild and moderate.
The length of time it will take for Tylenol extra strength to work depends on the dose taken. If you are taking 10 milligrams, it may take 15 minutes to work. It may take 30 to 60 minutes for 60 milligrams to work after ingestion.
2. Regular Tylenol
This is also known as Tylenol family liquid medicine with acetaminophen. Also, the same study by National Library of Medicine stayed that the drug will relief pain within 45 minutes.
The time in the study for meaningful pain relief is measured after dental surgery. This means that there will be shorter time for mild and moderate pain. You will notice that the liquid form tends to work faster than the tablets, this is because the liquid is easily processed and absorbed by the digestive system faster than tablets.
3. Tylenol Chewable Tablets
These are commonly used by children as it is gentle on the stomach and relieves minor aches and pains. They come in two favors making it easier for children to chew them, the flavors are bubble gum and grape. After taking a dose of these chewable tablets (160 mg), you can get relief in 15 to 30 minutes.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR TYLENOL TO WORK FOR PAIN?
Tylenol is one of the most common over-the-counter medicine used in relieving pain and fever. It inhibits the activity of cyclooxygenase (COX) , an enzyme that produces substance that cause pain and inflammation. The drug can be used to reduce many types of short term pain like headache, arthritis, menstrual cramps, dental pain, muscle aches and other types.
For oral tablets and extended-release tablets, it will take 45 minutes to get relief if the drug is taken on am empty stomach. Liquid forms of Tylenol can take about 20 minutes, the intravenous acetaminophen takes five to 10 minutes to have an effect.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR TYLENOL TO WORK FOR HEADACHE?
Most People Use Tylenol to Reduce Headaches
If Tylenol is taken on an empty stomach, it will take about 15 to 20 minutes for the medicine to work. But, if you have taken food before ingesting Tylenol, it will take between half an hour to sixty minutes to work. Tylenol is not magic, it takes time so you do not have to expect wonders. You will have to wait for few minutes to get relief. Do not take an overdose in a bid to get faster relief as this will lead to severe side effects.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR TYLENOL TO WORK FOR A TOOTHACHE?
Tylenol just like other acetaminophen can be used to reduce and manage toothache but it does not relieve swelling and inflammation. It may not be as effective as ibuprofen and other NSAIDs. For oral, liquid, or tablet form of Tylenol, it may take about 45 minutes. The oral disintegrating tablet can start to have effects on 20 minutes.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR TYLENOL TO WORK FOR A FEVER?
Reducing fever is one function of the Tylenol. A fever can be a symptom of an infection or another health condition. Most fever go away on its own after 2 or 3 days. You can use fever reducer like Tylenol to get relief and the drug will start to work in about 30 to 60 minutes for children.
In adults, it takes 90 minutes for Tylenol caplets or tablets to work. The dissolving tablets may take about 20 minutes. You can take the drug with or without food but taking food may interfere with how your body assimilates the drug making it less effective in reducing fever.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR TYLENOL TO WORK IN INFANTS?
Tylenol can be taken by infants and children, they can reduce fever and pain. The drug comes in two forms which are infant drops for babies and an oral suspension for older kids. Babies and infants can take Tylenol when they are having new teeth, ear infection or any minor injury. Tylenol takes 30 to 45 minutes to start working and after one hour, the effect will get to the maximum level. To relief pain, Tylenol can take 15 to 30 minutes to work in the body.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR TYLENOL TO WORK FOR MENSTRUAL CRAMPS?
Some women experience cramps during their period, the cramps can be back aches, headache, or even leg pain. Cramps occurs when the hormones cause the uterus to contract. When the contractions happen too strongly, the flow of blood and oxygen decrease leading to the pain you feel. The oral, tablet and liquid forms of Tylenol can take about 45 minutes to work and relieve pain including menstrual cramps. The oral disintegrating tablet can take about 20 minutes to work.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TYLENOL TO DISSOLVE IN YOUR STOMACH?
Unlike what many people think, Tylenol does not dissolve in the stomach immediately it is taken. It can take up to 2 hours to be dissolved fully and be absorbed by the body. It is very important to know the length of time it takes for Tylenol to work as people may be tempted to take more than the recommended dosage if they feel the normal dose is not working. This can lead to dangerous side effects.
WHY DOES TYLENOL TAKE SO LONG TO WORK?
There has been many debates about how Tylenol works in the body. One of the theory is that it takes long time for your liver to absorb the drug and convert it into a substance known as AM404, this substance relieve some pain. Scientists are yet to know the exact time it takes before all of the Tylenol has been processed in your body.
CAN TYLENOL BE TAKEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH?
It is important that you should not take Tylenol on an empty stomach as this may lead to serious side effects, you should use the drug as instructed. Tylenol has an active ingredient known as acetaminophen and there is relationship between this ingredient and liver damage especially if taken in large doses. Also, taking too much of Tylenol can lead to overdose and death.
DOES TYLENOL WORK BETTER WITH FOOD?
Tylenol works better if taken with food. This is because the medicine needs to be assimilated in the bloodstream through the lining of the stomach and one of the ways this happens is by eating food especially if they are high in protein or fats. So, you should eat food before taking Tylenol and other pain relievers, but; do not eat too much of fatty or greasy food.
CONCLUSION
Tylenol has acetaminophen as its active ingredient and it is used to treat fever and pain. The length of time it will take for this medicine to work depends on the dose and formulation of the drug. Liquid forms tend to dissolve and work faster than solid forms.