Is Tylenol Safe To Take With Lexapro?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not it is safe to combine Lexapro and Tylenol.
Can I take a 500 mg Tylenol while taking Lexapro?
Apr 25, 2022- Tylenol is safe to take with Lexapro because there are no known interactions between the two medications.
- Tylenol is generally the preferred pain reliever for people taking Lexapro compared to NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen, which can increase bleeding risk and reduce antidepressant effectiveness.
Hello and thanks for your question! It's always a good idea to check into potential drug interactions, especially when it involves antidepressant drugs, as they tend to have many drug interactions.
So, let's get into it! Tylenol With Lexapro
Tylenol (acetaminophen) is the most commonly used over-the-counter analgesic.
While it is not absent of drug interactions, it has far fewer serious interactions than other analgesics, such as Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen).
As it concerns Lexapro, Tylenol is safe to take with it. There are no known interactions. In fact, it is generally the analgesic of choice in those taking antidepressants.
In most cases, it is the safer choice when compared to other over-the-counter analgesics like NSAIDs (e.g. ibuprofen).
Why Tylenol Is Preferred
As mentioned, Tylenol is generally the preferred analgesic in those taking antidepressants like Lexapro since there is no drug interaction between the two.
NSAIDs on the other hand, like Advil and Aleve, do interact with most antidepressants.
Studies show that the combination of NSAIDs and antidepressants (mostly SSRIs like Lexapro) not only increases the risk of bleeding but also can reduce the effectiveness of the antidepressant.
One study, published in Pharmacotherapy, concluded the following:
Concurrent use of an SSRI and NSAID increases the risk of gastrointestinal adverse outcomes such as bleeding.
Another found that those who combined SSRIs and NSAIDs had less of a chance of depression going into remission. It stated:
Our data indicate that clinicians should carefully balance the therapeutic benefits of antiinflammatory agents versus the potentially negative consequences of antagonizing the therapeutic efficacy of antidepressant agents in patients suffering from depression
While more data is needed in regard to the bleeding risk and how NSAIDs could affect antidepressant effectiveness, it is safe to say that Tylenol is not known to have these risks.
Final Words
Thanks again for reaching out! Let us know if we can be of further help.
References & sources
- Antidepressant effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are attenuated by antiinflammatory drugs in mice and humans — PubMed
- Guidelines for prevention of NSAID-related ulcer complications — PubMed
- Interaction between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs: review of the literature — PubMed
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Acetaminophen
- The active ingredient in Tylenol, a medication used to relieve pain and reduce fever.
- Analgesic
- A type of medication that relieves pain.
- Antidepressant
- A medication prescribed to treat depression and related mood disorders.
- Drug interactions
- When two medications affect each other's effectiveness or cause dangerous side effects when taken together.
- NSAIDs
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, a class of pain relievers that reduce inflammation, such as ibuprofen and naproxen.
- SSRIs
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, a common type of antidepressant medication like Lexapro.
- Gastrointestinal
- Related to the stomach and digestive system.
- Remission
- A state where symptoms of a condition like depression significantly improve or disappear.
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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