Is Turmeric Safe With Tylenol?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not Tylenol (acetaminophen) is safe to take with turmeric.
I'm in a little bit of pain and want to take something for it. I'm always wary of medicine so preferred to go the natural route. However, I need something a little more. I've been taking turmeric. Can I take Tylenol with it?
Sep 27, 2022- Turmeric and Tylenol have no known interactions and are safe to take together, unlike turmeric with ibuprofen or naproxen which can increase bleeding risk. If you have pre-existing liver disease, talk to your doctor before using turmeric and Tylenol together since both may affect the liver. Tylenol is the preferred pain reliever choice to combine with turmeric among over-the-counter options.
Answer
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Turmeric is considered safe to take with Tylenol (acetaminophen). There are no known drug interactions between the two. In fact, Tylenol would generally be the pain reliever of choice to combine with turmeric since other over-the-counter pain relievers, such as Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen) do interact with it.
Turmeric With Pain Relievers: Use Caution With NSAIDs
As mentioned, turmeric is safe with Tylenol but does have an interaction with some pain relievers, notably NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen.
Studies have shown that one of the active constituents of turmeric (curcumin) may have antiplatelet effects, and increase the risk of bleeding, especially if you are already taking a blood thinner. The risk is also increased if you are taking other drugs that have antiplatelet effects (as NSAIDs do).
Tylenol (acetaminophen) does not have this effect on the blood, and thus, is safe to take with turmeric in this regard.
It should be noted that there is some conflicting evidence as it relates to turmeric and being safe for the liver. There have been very rare reports of liver damage with turmeric use, but it is not clear if it contributed to the risk for liver damage (other factors were likely at play). Additionally, several studies have noted that it may actually have a liver-protecting effect.
I mention this because Tylenol overdoses are strongly associated with liver damage, but the drug is regarded as safe if used as directed. Overall, if you have any sort of pre-existing liver disease, I wouldn't use turmeric and Tylenol together until more is known about their effects. However, if you are a healthy individual, Tylenol and turmeric are considered safe to use.
Final Words
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References & sources
- Curcumin: A Review of Its’ Effects on Human Health — PubMed
- Anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin, a major constituent of Curcuma longa: a review of preclinical and clinical research — PubMed
- Safety and anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin: a component of tumeric (Curcuma longa) — PubMed
- Anti-inflammatory effects of oral supplementation with curcumin: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials — PubMed
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Acetaminophen
- An over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer commonly known by the brand name Tylenol.
- Drug interactions
- When two medications affect each other's effectiveness or safety when taken together.
- NSAIDs
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, a class of pain relievers like ibuprofen and naproxen that reduce inflammation.
- Curcumin
- The active compound in turmeric that gives it its medicinal properties.
- Antiplatelet effects
- The ability to reduce the blood's ability to clot by affecting platelets, which are cells that help form blood clots.
- Blood thinner
- A medication that reduces the blood's ability to clot and helps prevent dangerous blood clots from forming.
- Liver damage
- Harm or injury to the liver organ that can impair its ability to function properly.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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