Tylenol (paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen) is a popular American brand of pain reliever and fever reducer, sold by Johnson & Johnson. It is extremely popular because it is available without prescription and it is effective with few side effects, but overdoses of Tylenol are serious and can be fatal. In heavy drinkers, regular use of acetaminophen increases liver damage from alcohol. Unlike NSAIDs, paracetamol is not particularly effective against pain from inflammatory disorders.
Tylenol was discovered by David W. Young, a graduate of Covington Latin School and the University of Kentucky, while working on chemical patents at Standard Oil of Ohio in Cleveland, Ohio. The compound had no apparent use and the patent was granted to Young. He later discovered its use while working in Houston, Texas, at which point he sold the patent to Johnson & Johnson.
Tylenol was introduced in 1955 by J&J subsidiary McNeil Consumer Products Co. as one of the first alternatives to Aspirin, which at that time was being shown to have some negative health effects. It was originally marketed mainly towards children, but soon came to dominate the North American pain-killer market. There is a wide array of different varieties of Tylenol available today including extra-strength, children's doses, longer-lasting, and sleep aiding (as a combination with a sedative antihistamine). In 2005, Tylenol Ultra was introduced, containing 500mg of acetaminophen, the same dosage as Extra Strength Tylenol, but also including 65mg of caffeine. This is due to caffeine's vasoconstricting effects, for which there is some - which concludes "the fixed combination of ... caffeine was statistically significantly superior to the combination without caffeine" disputed - which notes that "benefits assumed for ... caffeine ... are not clearly confirmed in these trials" evidence for additional efficacy.
The patent on paracetamol has expired, and the continued success of Tylenol brand preparations is largely due to marketing, the backing of Johnson & Johnson, and new patented delivery mechanisms such as quick-release and extended-release forms of the medication.
On September 29, 1982, a Tylenol scare began when the first of seven individuals died in metropolitan Chicago, Illinois, after ingesting Extra Strength Tylenol that contained cyanide. While the crime was never solved and Tylenol sales temporarily collapsed, the brand was rebuilt and recovered in only a few years. The scare led to the introduction of tamper-proof packaging for medicines.
Tylenol remains a top seller, controlling about 35% of the pain killer market in North America.
In 2006, studies showed that recommended doses of Tylenol can cause elevation in liver enzymes in healthy adults. - commenting on the (Watkins et al, 2006) study
Tylenol products
The following is a list of all Tylenol products. - manufacturer's website
All of the Tylenol brand products contain Acetaminophen. Note that many of the ingredients tend to overlap among the various products. This may be due to the need to market and sell enough drugs to maintain a profit, though all drugs seem to claim to have different effects. All medicine quantities are derived from half-doses, and should therefore be doubled to determine the proper amount for a full dose.
Headaches, muscle and body pain, arthritis and joint pain
"Tylenol".
