Can you become addicted to Tylenol?
Tylenol is an over-the-counter medication that is commonly used as a pain reliever and fever reducer. Like other types of pain relievers, can you become addicted to Tylenol? It is not known to be an addictive substance. However, there are various formulations of the medication that are combined with potent substances that can lead to the development of an addiction.
According to a study from the FDA, each year about 70% of Americans turn to Tylenol or a form of acetaminophen to help treat symptoms of flu, cold and general pain. It is a popular pain reliever and a common household name when it comes to general over-the-counter medications.
It is a mild painkiller used to treat low to moderate concerns of pain. It is also only recommended for short-term use and not long-term management of conditions such as chronic pain. This is because overuse of Tylenol can increase the risk of adverse side effects.
More about Tylenol
Tylenol is the brand name for the medication acetaminophen. It does not produce a physical addiction, it cannot produce feelings of euphoria and it cannot cause a physical dependence. Over-the-counter medications like Tylenol are available without a prescription and are often sold in pharmacies, grocery stores or local convenience stores. It is typically considered safe when used as recommended.
Tylenol is the most popular brand name for the generic medication acetaminophen. Tylenol works by inhibiting the production of cyclooxygenase enzymes in the brain. This leads to the reduction of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are responsible for the development of pain and fever. The less prostaglandins in the brain, the less pain you feel.
Though Tylenol cannot produce a high or euphoric feeling, it is possible for a person to develop a psychological dependence to the drug. If the person begins to rely on it to help them cope with stress, anxiety or emotional pain, it can turn into habitual use. However, this type of dependence doesn’t usually lead to an addiction.
Overuse of Tylenol
There is such a thing as overuse of Tylenol. This can lead to dangerous physical side effects. Overuse of Tylenol can cause gastrointestinal issues, kidney damage and an impact on neurological effects. The biggest impact is on the liver. Acetaminophen is known to cause liver damage.
Can you become addicted to Tylenol?
With acetaminophen in general, it is not considered to be an addictive substance. However, there are prescription medications that contain acetaminophen as an active ingredient that have the potential to become addictive.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, over 60 million people in the US misuse prescription medications that contain pain relievers like Tylenol. In 2004, a prescription version of Tylenol was prescribed over 6 million times.
When it comes to Tylenol addiction, it is often caused by combining the over-the-counter medication with other substances such as codeine and Xanax. These other drugs increase the risk of addiction and overdose.
Tylenol 3 and Tylenol 4 are prescription painkillers that contain both acetaminophen and codeine. Codeine is an opioid substance often used as a cough suppressant. It targets the central nervous system to alleviate pain. It is not the strongest opioid medication, but it is still an opioid that carries risks of abuse and addiction with long-term use.
The main difference between the two types of prescription Tylenols is the proportion of codeine to acetaminophen. Tylenol 3 contains 30mg of codeine and 300mg of acetaminophen. Tylenol 4 contains 60mg of codeine and 300mg of acetaminophen. Common side effects of Tylenol addiction include anxiety, depression, mood swings, sleep apnea, nodding off, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach pain, constipation, slowed breathing, vision changes and itching.
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Physical Symptoms of Tylenol Addiction
- Liver damage and dysfunction
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Sweating
- Fatigue
- Jaundice
- Gastrointestinal issues
Behavioral Symptoms of Tylenol Addiction
- Drug cravings
- Exceeding the recommended doses of the drug
- Neglecting daily responsibilities due to drug use
- Dampening of a person’s emotions
- Development of withdrawal symptoms when attempting to reduce or stop drug use
Psychological Symptoms of Tylenol Addiction
- Anxiety and restlessness
- Guilt or shame for drug use
- Mood swings and irritability
- Depression is linked to reliance on the drug
- Cognitive difficulties such as impaired concentration
- Loss of interest in activities once loved
- Feelings of isolation due to drug use
What about other over-the-counter medications? Are they addictive?
Over-the-counter medications are generally safe, but they can also be overused and abused. Over-the-counter drug addiction can change your brain’s chemistry over time when the user builds tolerance to the drug. Some people can also develop withdrawal symptoms from certain substances. Studies found that an estimated 3.1 million young people ages 12 to 25 have abused nonprescription cough or cold medicine in an attempt to get high.
Abusing over-the-counter medications can lead to risk of memory loss, kidney failure, heart problems, liver damage and even death. Many over-the-counter medications can be sold directly to consumers without prescriptions. They treat a wide range of illnesses. But just because they are sold without a prescription doesn’t mean they come without risk of use.
Cough medications. Some over-the-counter cough medications contain an ingredient called dextromethorphan (DXM). Abused cough suppressant medications that include DXM can cause hallucinations when used in very high doses. It is a popular substance used among young people due to its ease of availability. A dose between 100mg to 200mg can induce feelings of mild stimulation and euphoria. A dose of 300mg to 600mg can cause loss of motor control and visual distortions.
Higher doses can lead to out-of-body sensations, breathing problems, blacking out, muscle twitching, heart palpitations, changes in blood pressure, elevated body temperature, rapid heart rate, blurred vision and overall brain damage. Studies found that an estimated 4% of 12th graders have abused some form of cough medicine.
Cold medicines. Many cold medications contain the ingredient pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine is a stimulant substance active in many cold medications and used to help treat nasal and sinus congestion from cold or allergies.
When abused, it can cause intense hallucinations and is often an ingredient in illegal substances like meth. Symptoms of abuse include irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, high blood pressure and development of seizures.
Motion sickness medications. Over-the-counter motion sickness medicines contain the ingredient dimenhydrinate. They are used to treat motion sickness and vertigo. In high doses, it can cause hallucinations, nausea, irregular heartbeat, seizures and coma. It is often abused for its psychedelic side effects.
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Can you become addicted to Tylenol? Yes and No. Acetaminophen in general is not considered addictive. But taking too much of the medication can be dangerous and lead to serious medical issues, especially with the liver. In fact, researchers have found that the most common cause of acute liver failure in the US is due to excessive amounts of acetaminophen use.
However, when it comes to acetaminophen in combination with other substances such as codeine, the drug can become addictive. Codeine is an opioid. And like other opioids, it is potent enough that if abused, it can lead to addiction.
Professional behavioral health treatment programs such as Hotel California by the Sea provide a well-rounded, comprehensive care plan when it comes to treating substance addictions. We offer treatment at all levels of care including detox, residential, PHP and IOP. We utilize evidence-based treatment methods such as CBT, DBT and MAT. Hotel California by the Sea is dedicated to helping our clients reach their goals in sobriety and overcome their addiction.
References:
https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/over-counter-medicines
https://rubiconrecoverycenter.com/addiction/acetaminophen
https://www.addictioncenter.com/alcohol/alcohol-acetaminophen
https://comfortrecoveryllc.com/can-you-become-addicted-to-tylenol/
https://www.rehabcenter.net/codeine/tylenol-3-4/
https://www.addictiongroup.org/blog/tylenol-3/
