How Long Does Tylenol (Acetaminophen) Last?

Our pharmacist answers the latest question regarding how long the pain reliever Tylenol (Acetaminophen) lasts.

How Long Does Tylenol (Acetaminophen) Last?
Nov 11, 2017

Herman asked

How long does Tylenol (acetaminophen) last?

Answer

How Long Does Tylenol LastEach dose of Tylenol (acetaminophen) lasts around four to six hours. This includes Tylenol Regular Strength products and Tylenol Extra Strength products.

After taking by mouth, Tylenol is very quickly absorbed and you can expect the analgesic effects to begin working within 20 to 30 minutes. Multiple studies show that peak concentrations of Tylenol in the blood occur within 30 to 60 minutes after taking.

It is important to note that taking Tylenol with food MAY decrease how quickly the drug is absorbed, but the overall effect of the drug should be relatively unchanged.

Tylenol is also quickly metabolized in our bodies and has a short half life (time it takes to metabolize 50% of the drug) of two to three hours.

The typical dose of Tylenol is 325 mg to 650 mg every four to six hours with no single dose exceeding 1,000 mg. The maximum daily dose of Tylenol is 4,000 mg although it is often recommended to take far less than that if you take Tylenol regularly.

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