Can Tylenol Cause Constipation?

Tylenol is a drug used to treat pain and fever. It helps to relieve pain caused due to fever, cold, headaches, and menstrual cramps. It also works to reduce fever. Acetaminophen is the generic name, and it belongs to the drug class named Analgesics. It is also called Opioid induced constipation (opioid is a drug class for medications relieving pain).

Tylenol is an over the counter medication you can buy Tylenol from certified pharmacy it is recommended to have doctor's advise first.

During the medication of Tylenol, there are some side effects associated with it that one might have to face. One of the side effects which one may experience while taking Tylenol is constipation. Around 40 to 60 percent of Tylenol users faces the problem of constipation.

Constipation can be identified from symptoms like hard stools, pain in intestines, longer duration of excretion, dry stools.

How Does Tylenol Cause Constipation?

Tylenol is a pain reliever medicine. Tylenol leads to constipation as it affects bowel movement. It slows down the stool to pass through the intestines.

This makes the bowel absorb more water from the stool as the stool remains for a long time in the bowel. This might keep the stool hard and dry, which makes it difficult to pass and leads to constipation.

In medicinal terms Acetaminophen is the active ingredient which provokes the process of constipation, as it is also included in side effects of it (Moir, M.S., Bair, E., Shinnick, P. and Messner, A., 2000).

Study: Tylenol And Constipation

Research and analysis were conducted by eHealthMe to study the effect of constipation during the medication of Tylenol.

eHealth studied the total individuals taking Tylenol and observed that 165623 people taking Tylenol faced side effects after medication. 2.97% of people (4925) suffered from constipation from these people

Along with this study, another study was conducted where 54 people who faced constipation due to medication of Tylenol were observed.

The severity of constipation was moderate to normal for the majority of the people and mainly affected the women participants.

Thus, it can be concluded that Tylenol causes constipation. Everyone might not face the effect, but it does affect some people (Dowdell, T.D., Govindaraj, S. and Jain, P.C., 1992).

How Does Tylenol Work?

Tylenol works by blocking the enzymes which produce prostaglandins. Prostaglandin is the chemical that makes the body feel pain. Thus, as Tylenol blocks, the enzymes, the level of prostaglandin decreases and also reduces the feeling of pain.

Forms And Strengths

Tylenol is an oral medication available in different forms such as tablets, capsules, caplets, chewable tablets, liquid solution, extended-release caplets, and orally disintegrating tablets.

How To Take Tylenol?

One should take Tylenol only as per the direction of the medical expert. It should be taken with water before or after eating food. Do not break or crush the tablets. A proper measuring spoon should be used for oral Tylenol.

Do not try to increase or decrease the dose without consulting the doctor. Do consult before stopping the medicine. If you face any problems while taking medicine, contact your doctor immediately.

Doctors sometimes prescribes Tylenol with codeine according to your health status, as codeine is opioid it slows down central nervous system indirectly effecting digesting functions also, so always prefer doctor’s advice regarding prescribed medicine.

Dosage

Adult Dose:

2 tablets of 500 mg are taken every 4-6 hours in one dose.

Single-dose should be more than 1000 mg.

The maximum daily dose is 4000 mg.

It is advised not to take it for more than 10 days.

Pediatric dose (6-12):

1 dose should be 325-650 mg given every 4-6 hours.

The maximum dose should not be more than 5 doses, i.e., 3250 mg

The dose can be changed depending upon the age and weight of an individual.

Who Should Not Take It?

One should not take Tylenol if:

1. Allergic to acetaminophen
2. Serious liver disease like Cirrhosis
3. Regular consumption of alcohol
4. Diabetes

Pregnant and breastfeeding women can take this only if prescribed by the doctor in an emergency and necessary conditions.

Side Effects

These are some common side effects of taking Tylenol:

1. Nausea
2. Loss of appetite
3. Constipation
4. Headaches
5. Stomach pain

Following are some severe side effects which one may face after taking Tylenol:

1. Difficulty in breathing
2. Redness of the skin
3. Swelling
4. Abdomen pain
5. Jaundice
6. Itching and rashes on the skin

One should immediately consult the medical practitioner if any of these side effects are observed. The doctor may change the dose or terminate the medication depending upon the situation.

Drug Interactions

Tylenol may interact with the following drugs:

1. Other medicines containing acetaminophen
2. Antibiotics
3. Anaesthetics
4. Anticonvulsants
5. Alcohol
6. Nicotine
7. Other fever medications

Inform your doctor if you take any of these medications, as these interactions can severely affect the body.

How To Tackle Constipation From Tylenol?

The problem of constipation caused due to Tylenol can be tackled by taking laxatives. These laxatives help to move your stool move in the bowel and allow the liquid to stay in the bowel.

Sennosides and PEG are some of the laxatives which can be used to treat the problem of constipation. In addition to this physical exercise, high fibre diet, and staying hydrated are also some of the measures to tackle constipation.

Do consult your doctor to know about the effects of these medicines on your body before taking them.

Conclusion

Tylenol is a widely used muscle relaxant that helps to tackle pain and ache. Tylenol works on central nervous system and indirectly effects on involuntary actions in digestion system leading to constipation.

Tylenol may lead to constipation in some individuals. This problem can be solved by following a proper diet and exercise. If you experience such an effect, inform your doctor and get the necessary professional help.