Tylenol vs Paracetamol

What is Tylenol? 

Acetaminophen is marketed under the brand name Tylenol. Tylenol is a pain reliever and fever reducer as well. Colds and flu, headaches, muscle pains, arthritis, menstrual cramps, and fevers are treated with Tylenol to decrease fever and relieve moderate pain (Douglas, D.R., Sholal, J.B. and Smilkstein, M.J., 1996).

What is Paracetamol?

Paracetamol is also another name for acetaminophen. It is a mild pain medication with few adverse effects. Sciatica, Muscle Pain, Fever, and Pain are among the conditions for this medication (Prescott, L.F., 2000).

Forms and Strengths

Tylenol

Tylenol adult acetaminophen medications come in three strengths:

• regular strength (325 mg)
• extra strength (500 mg)
• extended-release Tylenol 8 HR (625 mg)

Tablets (325 mg) and liquid gel capsules are both available in Tylenol Regular Strength (325 mg)

Paracetamol

The following forms and strengths of paracetamol are available:

• Tablets: 325mg - 500mg
• Extended-release caplets: 650mg
• Capsules: 500mg
• Gel caps / gel tabs: 500mg
• Oral suspension or solution: 160mg or 5ml
• Liquid (oral): 500mg or 5ml
• Oral-disintegrating tablets: 80mg - 160mg
• Caplets: 325mg, 500mg and 650mg
• Syrup: 160mg or 5ml
• Suppositories: 125mg, 250mg and 500mg

Dosages

For Tylenol

The typical dose of Tylenol Regular Strength is two tablets or capsules of 650 mg every four to six hours.

Adults and adolescents aged 12 and above should not take more than 10 Tylenol pills (3,250 mg) in 24 hours. Use for no more than ten days.

Children between 6 and 11 can take regular strength Tylenol (325 mg). Tylenol should only be given to children under the age of six under the supervision of a doctor or other healthcare expert. 

When providing Tylenol to young children, the appropriate dose is determined by the child's weight and age (Lesko, S.M. and Mitchell, A.A., 1999).

For Paracetamol

Adults and children aged 16 and above should take 500 mg to 1 g every 4-6 hours, up to a maximum of 4 g per day.

The standard dose for children aged 12-15 years is 480-750 mg every 4-6 hours, up to a maximum of four doses per day.

If needed, a dosage of paracetamol can be taken every 4-6 hours, up to four times each day. Remember that you should wait at least four hours between doses and that you should not take more than four paracetamol doses in 24 hours (Cranswick, N. and Coghlan, D., 2000).

Are Tylenol and Paracetamol the same thing? 

In the United States, paracetamol is known as acetaminophen. It comes in a variety of brands, including Tylenol, Mapap, and Panadol, as well as generics and store-specific brands.

Although suggested doses and available strengths may vary significantly between nations, there are no changes in the chemical structure or therapeutic usage of Tylenol and paracetamol.

Tylenol is commonly referred as to as paracetamol in various parts of the world, including Europe, Australia, India, and New Zealand.

Side Effects

Although acetaminophen has negative effects, most people do not notice them. The majority of people well tolerate this medicine. It has caused allergic reactions in a few persons. Severe liver damage is the most concerning adverse effect. 

Acetaminophen has the following common side effects:

• Loss of appetite
• Itching
• Rash
• Headache
• Dark urine
• Clay-colored feces

Some people have suffered adverse reactions to acetaminophen in very uncommon situations. Contact your healthcare professional right away if you have any of the following symptoms after taking acetaminophen.

• Skin itching
• Peeling of skin
• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of your face, lips, throat, or tongue
• Skin blistering 
• severe dizziness

How does it work?

Acetaminophen belongs to the analgesics (pain relievers) and antipyretics pharmacological classes (fever reducers). Acetaminophen's specific method of action is unknown. 

Prostaglandin production in the brain may be reduced by this medication. Prostaglandins are inflammatory and swelling-causing substances. Acetaminophen alleviates pain by raising the pain threshold, which means that a person must experience more pain before feeling it. 

It works by reducing fever by affecting the brain's heat-regulating region. When the body's temperature rises, it instructs the center to lower the body's temperature (Graham, G.G. and Scott, K.F., 2005. Mechanism of action of paracetamol).