Is Tylenol Safe To Take With Prednisone?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not Tylenol is safe to take with prednisone.
Hello, I am wondering if it is okay to take Tylenol and prednisone together. Thank you
Jul 16, 2022- Tylenol (acetaminophen) is safe to take with prednisone because there are no known interactions between these two medications.
- Tylenol is the preferred over-the-counter pain reliever to use with prednisone, unlike ibuprofen which has a moderate interaction with it.
Answer
Hello and thanks for reaching out! I'm more than happy to answer this for you.
Tylenol (acetaminophen) is considered safe to take with prednisone. There are no known interactions between the drugs.
In fact, Tylenol is the OTC (over-the-counter) pain reliever of choice to take with prednisone for most individuals as ibuprofen has a moderate interaction with it, and needs to be taken cautiously.
About Tylenol
Acetaminophen is used to relieve mild to moderate pain from headaches, muscle aches, menstrual periods, colds and sore throats, toothaches, backaches, and reactions to vaccinations (shots), and to reduce fever. It may also be used to relieve the pain of osteoarthritis (arthritis caused by the breakdown of the lining of the joints).
Acetaminophen is in a class of medications called analgesics (pain relievers) and antipyretics (fever reducers). It works by changing the way the body senses pain and by cooling the body.
About Prednisone
Prednisone is used alone or with other medications to treat the symptoms of low corticosteroid levels (lack of certain substances that are usually produced by the body and are needed for normal body functioning). It is also used to treat other conditions in patients with normal corticosteroid levels. These conditions include certain types of arthritis; severe allergic reactions; multiple sclerosis (a disease in which the nerves do not function properly); lupus (a disease in which the body attacks many of its own organs); and certain conditions that affect the lungs, skin, eyes, kidneys blood, thyroid, stomach, and intestines.
Prednisone is also sometimes used to treat the symptoms of certain types of cancer.
Prednisone is in a class of medications called corticosteroids. It works to treat patients with low levels of corticosteroids by replacing steroids that are normally produced naturally by the body. It works to treat other conditions by reducing swelling and redness and by changing the way the immune system works.
Final Words
Thanks again for your question!
References & sources
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Acetaminophen
- An over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer commonly known by the brand name Tylenol.
- Prednisone
- A prescription corticosteroid medication used to reduce swelling, inflammation, and suppress immune system activity.
- OTC (over-the-counter)
- Medications that can be purchased without a prescription at pharmacies or stores.
- Ibuprofen
- An over-the-counter pain reliever and anti-inflammatory medication that has a moderate interaction with prednisone.
- Analgesics
- A class of medications that relieve pain.
- Antipyretics
- A class of medications that reduce fever.
- Corticosteroids
- A class of medications that reduce inflammation and swelling by mimicking natural steroids produced by the body.
- Osteoarthritis
- A type of arthritis caused by breakdown of the protective lining covering the ends of bones in joints.
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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