Tylenol (acetaminophen) is commonly used to manage pain and control a fever.
Prednisone is a prescription medication that reduces swelling, irritation, and inflammation associated with a wide range of conditions.
Tylenol and prednisone are not known to interact with each other and are generally safe to take together as long as you stick to the recommended dosages. However, they can interact with other drugs.
Read on to learn more about when you can take Tylenol with prednisone and what precautions you should take.
Tylenol is one of the most popular medications in the United States. It’s estimated that about 1 in 5 American adults take a medication containing the active ingredient acetaminophen in any given week.
Prednisone is only available by prescription and falls into a class of medications known as corticosteroids. These kinds of drugs can help lower inflammation in the body.
Acetaminophen works by blocking chemicals in your brain that carry pain signals. Tylenol and other forms of acetaminophen are commonly used to relieve fever and pain caused by conditions such as:
Prednisone is only available by prescription and is used to treat a variety of conditions by reducing inflammation and suppressing immune system activity.
Some of the common conditions doctors prescribe prednisone for include:
Tylenol and prednisone are not known to interact with each. They’re generally safe to take together, as long as you don’t take more than the recommended dosages. It’s important to follow the instructions on the packaging or the instructions given to you by your doctor.
In general, it’s best to only take one new medication at a time to see how one drug affects you before taking another. It’s also a good idea to check with a healthcare professional anytime you combine medications.
Although taking Tylenol and prednisone together is not known to cause any negative interactions, they can interact with some other medications.
Tylenol isn’t the only medication that contains acetaminophen. Many other medications contain acetaminophen, too.
That’s why it’s important to check the labels of any other medication you’re taking to make sure they don’t contain acetaminophen. If they do, you could be taking more acetaminophen than the recommended daily dosage.
Some other drugs that contain acetaminophen include:
Tylenol is known to interact with many types of medication. Some of these interactions can cause severe complications. That’s why it’s a good idea to always talk with your doctor before combining Tylenol with other medications.
Some classes of drugs Tylenol is known to interact with include:
Prednisone is known to interact with hundreds of types of drugs. Some of the drugs that it may interact with include:
Most people do not experience any side effects when they take the recommended dose of Tylenol. Rarely, people develop an allergic reaction that can cause symptoms such as:
Taking more than the recommended dose of Tylenol can lead to liver damage. Acetaminophen is responsible for an estimated 500 deaths per year in the U.S. However, liver damage is rare if you follow the recommended dose.
Symptoms of liver damage can include:
The risk of prednisone side effects increases with how much you take.
Common side effects of prednisone include:
Less common side effects include:
In rare cases, it’s also possible to develop a severe allergic reaction to prednisone.
When taking Tylenol, it’s a good idea to:
When taking prednisone, it’s a good idea to:
Tylenol and prednisone are generally safe to take together and are not known to interact with each other. However, both medications can interact with other types of drugs.
It’s important not to take more than the recommended maximum dosage of either medication. Consult with your doctor or healthcare professional before combining Tylenol or prednisone with new medications or supplements.
Last medically reviewed on October 18, 2021
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