Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Prednisone?What Is Tylenol?Safety Information
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Prednisone?
What Is Tylenol?
Safety Information
Tylenol (acetaminophen) is a pain reliever commonly used to manage mild to moderate pain fromheadaches, muscle aches, menstrual periods, colds and sore throats, toothaches, backaches, and reactions to vaccinations.
No interaction has been found between the two medications so far. However, you should always consult your healthcare provider before starting a new medication.
This article details whether it is safe to take prednisone with acetaminophen, and includes medications that do not interact with either drug.
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Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid. It is different from hydrocortisone or cortisone. It lowers the activity of your immune system, which can help with conditions likerheumatoid arthritis, where the immune system attacks healthy joint tissues and causes inflammation.
As such, prednisone is used in the treatment of different types ofautoimmune diseases, which occur when the immune system attacks healthy cells.
This medication is also used to treat a number of other conditions:
What Are the Common Side Effects of Prednisone?Common side effects of prednisone include increased appetite, weight gain, acne,mood swings, headaches, and insomnia. More serious side effects can occur with long-term use. These include cataracts, glaucoma, osteoporosis, and bone damage in the hips.If you have headaches or other side effects while taking prednisone, talk to your healthcare provider. Your provider may recommend a separate treatment for your symptoms or adjust your prednisone dosage.
What Are the Common Side Effects of Prednisone?
Common side effects of prednisone include increased appetite, weight gain, acne,mood swings, headaches, and insomnia. More serious side effects can occur with long-term use. These include cataracts, glaucoma, osteoporosis, and bone damage in the hips.If you have headaches or other side effects while taking prednisone, talk to your healthcare provider. Your provider may recommend a separate treatment for your symptoms or adjust your prednisone dosage.
Prednisone Frequently Asked Questions
Corticosteroid Warnings
Since corticosteroids lower the function of your immune system, taking them can increase your susceptibility to infection.If you are taking this medication, you should avoid being near people who are sick or have infections, and you should not receive live vaccines, such as the smallpox vaccine.
Corticosteroids can also mask signs of infection and increase the risk of developing severe and even fatal responses to infections such as chicken pox and measles in non-immune children and adults. People withtuberculosiswho are taking corticosteroids require additional monitoring due to the drug’s potential in reactivating the disease.
Stopping corticosteroids abruptly can lead to withdrawal symptoms.
When to Call Your Healthcare ProviderIf you have any of the following serious side effects, call your healthcare provider or 911 immediately:Shortness of breathSevere pain in your upper stomachBloody or tarry stoolsSevere depressionChanges in personality or behaviorVision problems or eye pain
When to Call Your Healthcare Provider
If you have any of the following serious side effects, call your healthcare provider or 911 immediately:Shortness of breathSevere pain in your upper stomachBloody or tarry stoolsSevere depressionChanges in personality or behaviorVision problems or eye pain
If you have any of the following serious side effects, call your healthcare provider or 911 immediately:
Is Tylenol or Advil Better for a Headache?
Acetaminophen Warnings
Taking too much acetaminophen can causesevere liver damage.Adults can take between 325 mg and 650 mg of acetaminophen every four to six hours. Do not exceed 3,000 mg of acetaminophen in a 24-hour period.
Do not mix this drug with other medications containing acetaminophen. If you have liver disease or are taking the blood-thinning drug warfarin, consult your healthcare provider before taking Tylenol. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask a healthcare professional about the risks before use.
Severe skin reactions (reddening, rashes, and blistering) can occur in people who are allergic to acetaminophen.If this happens, stop taking Tylenol and seek medical help immediately.
When to Call Your Healthcare ProviderIf you experience the following, call your healthcare provider right away:Pain gets worse or lasts more than 10 days in adults.Pain gets worse or lasts more than five days in children under 12 years old.Fever gets worse or lasts more than three days.New symptoms occur.Redness or swelling is present.In the case of an overdose, call your healthcare provider or 911 immediately.
If you experience the following, call your healthcare provider right away:Pain gets worse or lasts more than 10 days in adults.Pain gets worse or lasts more than five days in children under 12 years old.Fever gets worse or lasts more than three days.New symptoms occur.Redness or swelling is present.In the case of an overdose, call your healthcare provider or 911 immediately.
If you experience the following, call your healthcare provider right away:
In the case of an overdose, call your healthcare provider or 911 immediately.
Is it Safe to Take Prednisone With Tylenol?
Generally speaking, it’s safe to take prednisone with Tylenol because no known drug interactions or drug and food interactions have been found.
Can I Take Any Pain Reliever With Prednisone?Do not take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen while taking prednisone unless your healthcare provider tells you to. The use of these drugs together is associated with a high risk of gastrointestinal complications, including peptic ulcer.
Can I Take Any Pain Reliever With Prednisone?
Do not take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen while taking prednisone unless your healthcare provider tells you to. The use of these drugs together is associated with a high risk of gastrointestinal complications, including peptic ulcer.
Can You Take Prednisone With Advil (Ibuprofen)?
Medications That Don’t Interact Well With Tylenol
Never take more than one medication containing acetaminophen, as this can lead to liver damage. Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in over 450 over-the-counter and prescription medications, which is why it is essential to check medication labels for acetaminophen and ask your healthcare provider if you are uncertain.
Common prescription and OTC drugs that contain acetaminophen include:
Do not use acetaminophen if you have taken amonoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)within the past 14 days. This includes drugs that contain isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.
Also, if you are takingblood-thinning (anticoagulant) medicationssuch as warfarin, ask your healthcare provider before using acetaminophen. Serious interactions between warfarin and acetaminophen are known to occur.
Medications That Don’t Interact Well With Prednisone
Prednisone is known to cause adverse reactions when combined with a variety of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, including:
To prevent adverse side effects or complications when taking prednisone, always inform your healthcare provider if you are due for a vaccination or are already taking other medications.
Summary
Tylenol and prednisone can be taken together so long as dosage and other safety guidelines for each are followed. Talk to your healthcare provider before starting, adjusting, or stopping any medication, and always mention any drug allergies or medical conditions.
Also, tell your healthcare provider about all the medications and supplements you are taking so they know whether prednisone and Tylenol are safe for you to use. If you are having an adverse reaction to either or both medications, seek help from a medical professional immediately.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Laguna treatment hospital.Short-term and long-term side effects of prednisone.Chakravarthy K, Strand N, Frosch A, et al.Recommendations and guidance for steroid injection therapy and COVID-19 vaccine administration from the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN).J Pain Res.2021 Mar;14(1):623-629. doi:10.2147/JPR.S302115Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Altered immunocompetence.Nowiński A, Wesołowski S, Korzeniewska-Koseła M.The impact of comorbidities on tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Poland: A national cohort study.Front Public Health. 2023 Sep;11(1):1253615. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1253615Harvard Health Publishing.Ask the doctor: Does prednisone increase blood pressure?.Wahab F, Rahman R, Yaacob L, Noor N, Draman N.A case report of steroid withdrawal syndrome.Korean J Fam Med. 2020 Sep;41(5):359-362. doi:10.4082/kjfm.18.0181Ohashi N, Kohno T.Analgesic effect of acetaminophen: A review of known and novel mechanisms of action.Front Pharmacol.2020 Nov;11(1):1-6. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.580289UCI Health.Acetaminophen: Too much is dangerous for your liver.MedlinePlus.Acetaminophen overdose.FDA.Questions and answers: FDA warns of rare but serious skin reactions with the pain reliever/fever reducer acetaminophen.Rafaniello C, Ferrajolo C, Sullo M, et al.Risk of gastrointestinal complications associated to NSAIDs, low-dose aspirin and their combinations: Results of a pharmacovigilance reporting system.Pharmacol Res. 2016 Feb;104(1):108-114. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2015.12.026Tylenol.The “only one” rule for acetaminophen.Kaiser Permanente.Acetaminophen, dextromethorpan, and phenylephrine.Leong D, Wu P.Warfarin and acetaminophen interaction in a 47-year old woman.CMAJ. 2020 May;192(19):E506-E508. doi:10.1503/cmaj.191532Williams D.Clinical pharmacology of corticosteroids.Resp Care. 2018 Jun;63(6):655-670. doi:10.4187/respcare.06314
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Laguna treatment hospital.Short-term and long-term side effects of prednisone.Chakravarthy K, Strand N, Frosch A, et al.Recommendations and guidance for steroid injection therapy and COVID-19 vaccine administration from the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN).J Pain Res.2021 Mar;14(1):623-629. doi:10.2147/JPR.S302115Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Altered immunocompetence.Nowiński A, Wesołowski S, Korzeniewska-Koseła M.The impact of comorbidities on tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Poland: A national cohort study.Front Public Health. 2023 Sep;11(1):1253615. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1253615Harvard Health Publishing.Ask the doctor: Does prednisone increase blood pressure?.Wahab F, Rahman R, Yaacob L, Noor N, Draman N.A case report of steroid withdrawal syndrome.Korean J Fam Med. 2020 Sep;41(5):359-362. doi:10.4082/kjfm.18.0181Ohashi N, Kohno T.Analgesic effect of acetaminophen: A review of known and novel mechanisms of action.Front Pharmacol.2020 Nov;11(1):1-6. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.580289UCI Health.Acetaminophen: Too much is dangerous for your liver.MedlinePlus.Acetaminophen overdose.FDA.Questions and answers: FDA warns of rare but serious skin reactions with the pain reliever/fever reducer acetaminophen.Rafaniello C, Ferrajolo C, Sullo M, et al.Risk of gastrointestinal complications associated to NSAIDs, low-dose aspirin and their combinations: Results of a pharmacovigilance reporting system.Pharmacol Res. 2016 Feb;104(1):108-114. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2015.12.026Tylenol.The “only one” rule for acetaminophen.Kaiser Permanente.Acetaminophen, dextromethorpan, and phenylephrine.Leong D, Wu P.Warfarin and acetaminophen interaction in a 47-year old woman.CMAJ. 2020 May;192(19):E506-E508. doi:10.1503/cmaj.191532Williams D.Clinical pharmacology of corticosteroids.Resp Care. 2018 Jun;63(6):655-670. doi:10.4187/respcare.06314
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Laguna treatment hospital.Short-term and long-term side effects of prednisone.Chakravarthy K, Strand N, Frosch A, et al.Recommendations and guidance for steroid injection therapy and COVID-19 vaccine administration from the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN).J Pain Res.2021 Mar;14(1):623-629. doi:10.2147/JPR.S302115Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Altered immunocompetence.Nowiński A, Wesołowski S, Korzeniewska-Koseła M.The impact of comorbidities on tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Poland: A national cohort study.Front Public Health. 2023 Sep;11(1):1253615. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1253615Harvard Health Publishing.Ask the doctor: Does prednisone increase blood pressure?.Wahab F, Rahman R, Yaacob L, Noor N, Draman N.A case report of steroid withdrawal syndrome.Korean J Fam Med. 2020 Sep;41(5):359-362. doi:10.4082/kjfm.18.0181Ohashi N, Kohno T.Analgesic effect of acetaminophen: A review of known and novel mechanisms of action.Front Pharmacol.2020 Nov;11(1):1-6. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.580289UCI Health.Acetaminophen: Too much is dangerous for your liver.MedlinePlus.Acetaminophen overdose.FDA.Questions and answers: FDA warns of rare but serious skin reactions with the pain reliever/fever reducer acetaminophen.Rafaniello C, Ferrajolo C, Sullo M, et al.Risk of gastrointestinal complications associated to NSAIDs, low-dose aspirin and their combinations: Results of a pharmacovigilance reporting system.Pharmacol Res. 2016 Feb;104(1):108-114. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2015.12.026Tylenol.The “only one” rule for acetaminophen.Kaiser Permanente.Acetaminophen, dextromethorpan, and phenylephrine.Leong D, Wu P.Warfarin and acetaminophen interaction in a 47-year old woman.CMAJ. 2020 May;192(19):E506-E508. doi:10.1503/cmaj.191532Williams D.Clinical pharmacology of corticosteroids.Resp Care. 2018 Jun;63(6):655-670. doi:10.4187/respcare.06314
Laguna treatment hospital.Short-term and long-term side effects of prednisone.
Chakravarthy K, Strand N, Frosch A, et al.Recommendations and guidance for steroid injection therapy and COVID-19 vaccine administration from the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN).J Pain Res.2021 Mar;14(1):623-629. doi:10.2147/JPR.S302115
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Altered immunocompetence.
Nowiński A, Wesołowski S, Korzeniewska-Koseła M.The impact of comorbidities on tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Poland: A national cohort study.Front Public Health. 2023 Sep;11(1):1253615. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1253615
Harvard Health Publishing.Ask the doctor: Does prednisone increase blood pressure?.
Wahab F, Rahman R, Yaacob L, Noor N, Draman N.A case report of steroid withdrawal syndrome.Korean J Fam Med. 2020 Sep;41(5):359-362. doi:10.4082/kjfm.18.0181
Ohashi N, Kohno T.Analgesic effect of acetaminophen: A review of known and novel mechanisms of action.Front Pharmacol.2020 Nov;11(1):1-6. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.580289
UCI Health.Acetaminophen: Too much is dangerous for your liver.
MedlinePlus.Acetaminophen overdose.
FDA.Questions and answers: FDA warns of rare but serious skin reactions with the pain reliever/fever reducer acetaminophen.
Rafaniello C, Ferrajolo C, Sullo M, et al.Risk of gastrointestinal complications associated to NSAIDs, low-dose aspirin and their combinations: Results of a pharmacovigilance reporting system.Pharmacol Res. 2016 Feb;104(1):108-114. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2015.12.026
Tylenol.The “only one” rule for acetaminophen.
Kaiser Permanente.Acetaminophen, dextromethorpan, and phenylephrine.
Leong D, Wu P.Warfarin and acetaminophen interaction in a 47-year old woman.CMAJ. 2020 May;192(19):E506-E508. doi:10.1503/cmaj.191532
Williams D.Clinical pharmacology of corticosteroids.Resp Care. 2018 Jun;63(6):655-670. doi:10.4187/respcare.06314
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