How long does it take for painkillers to kick in?

Most people are used to painkillers such as Tylenol, Paracetamol, or Aspirin, as they are the most common pills on the market. Not only are they easy to find but they are quite cheap as well. However, if you are wondering how long it takes for painkillers to work on your body, you will find all the information you need below.

What is Tylenol?

Tylenol is a medicine that reduces muscle pain, headaches, toothaches, sore throats, colds, and fevers using acetaminophen. Acetaminophen is an active ingredient in the pills which are most common in painkillers such as Paracetamol, Aspirin, or even Tylenol.

How Does Tylenol Work?

The acetaminophen in Tylenol works by obstructing your brain from releasing the substances that cause the pain in your body. It helps you feel better and more comfortable with the pain. It works quite fast once you take it, however, it depends on each person’s body condition and age.

How long does it take for Tylenol to kick in?

The amount of time for the Tylenol to kick in really depends on the individual ingesting the pill. There are a few factors that affect how fast it will work. For example, the weight of the person, as the pill will have its effect quicker if you are skinny.

Another thing is your stomach. If your stomach is empty, the pill will dissolve in your stomach and go to your blood system faster. Once it reaches your brain, it will be able to block the pain signal. Thus, it will take about 30 minutes for the pill to work for people who have not eaten. On the other hand, if you take the pill with a full stomach, the pill will take about one hour to finally get into your blood system.

Furthermore, it is likely to work slower for those who take Tylenol regularly than those who barely know the existence of the latter. This is because your body starts to get used to the medicine if you take it often.

How Long Will Tylenol Last?

The acetaminophen usually lasts for 4 hours. The pill will stay in your blood system for about four to eight hours depending on your digestion system. That is to say, if you have severe pain, you might want to take it every five to six hours. If you do not feel better, we recommend contacting a pharmacist or a doctor for a different medicine or treatment.

What is the Right Amount of Dosage?

When you buy yourself a pack of Tylenol, there will be a pamphlet in the box explaining how many tablets you should take. It is very important not to overdose on Tylenol as it has a great effect on your body.

For Adults

It is recommended to take between 650 mg (milligrams) to 1,000 mg. Please, avoid taking over 3,000 mg per day. Adults can take 2 tablets at a time, but how regularly depends on how many milligrams are contained in one pill. For example, for 325 milligrams of pill, you can take 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours. For 650 milligrams, you can take them every 8 hours. Most importantly, do not take Tylenol over 20 days in a row.

For Children

As for children, it is recommended that they take one tablet if they are 24-47 pounds, and two tablets if they weigh more than 50 pounds. It is very important for parents to watch their kid while he/she is taking the pills. Moreover, children should not take Tylenol over 5 days in a row.

When Do I Stop Taking Tylenol?

If you feel like you are recovering from illnesses such as pain in your body, fever, or a cold, then you should stop taking Tylenol to avoid an overdose. However, there are some cases in which you have to immediately stop taking Tylenol and call a doctor:

• If you still have a sore throat after using Tylenol for two days.
• If you still have a fever after using Tylenol for three days.
• If you still have physical pain after using Tylenol for seven days.
• If you start to have a skin rash, constant headache, vomiting, or swelling.
• If you start to have side effects or your symptoms are getting worse.

What Happens If You Overdose Tylenol?

There are many symptoms if you are overdosing on acetaminophen such as nausea, vomiting, pain on the right side of the abdomen, high blood pressure, and loss of appetite. If you are starting to have these symptoms, contact the doctor right away as overdosing Tylenol can actually be dangerous for your well-being.

Even though it is true that Tylenol is a common pill, you need to be very careful while using an acetaminophen-based product. There are over five hundred people who die from overdosing acetaminophen in America per year. It might not be a large number, but there are over 56,000 cases of emergency visits in a year caused by taking too much acetaminophen.

All in all, consuming medicine can be either good or bad. You need to always be cautious of how much you take and know when to stop. Remember to always read the instruction that comes with the pills and keep it away from the kids for their safety.