The short answer
There is no clear evidence that Tylenol can help with nausea. In contrast, a high dose of Tylenol can cause nausea and vomiting. However, studies showed that the intravenous administration of acetaminophen reduced postoperative nausea and vomiting by reducing pain threshold.
Key facts
- Tylenol is a pain killer that contains acetaminophen active ingredient.
- It is used mainly to relieve pain and reduce fever.
- No clear evidence that oral Tylenol can help with nausea.
- Intravenous acetaminophen is reported to reduce nausea and vomiting in postoperative patients via controlling pain.
- Overdose of Tylenol can cause nausea and vomiting.
- Eating smaller, more frequent meals can help you to reduce nausea.
- Ginger, Peppermint tea, and peppermint oil can help you with nausea.
Content
What are the indications of Tylenol?
Does Tylenol help with nausea?
What are the side effects of Tylenol?
What are the indications of Tylenol?
Tylenol is a pain reliver that considered one of the most commonly used medicine in the USA. It contain acetaminophen as pharmacologically active ingredient.
It is available in different dosage form such as liquid gel, tablets, caplets, dissolve packs, rapid release gels, and liquid suspension
Tylenol is available as over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medicines
Indication of Tylenol
- Pain reliever
- Reduce fever
- Relieve minor aches
- Used for minor pain of arthritis
- Toothache
- Muscular pain
- Relieve premenstrual and menstrual cramps
Does Tylenol help with nausea?
Tylenol is not an Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID). NSAIDs such as aspirin and ibuprofen can cause stomach ulcers. In contrast, Tylenol is found to be nonirritant with no harmful effect on your stomach.
No clear evidence that oral administration of Tylenol can help with nausea and vomiting. However, several studies showed that the intravenous administration of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, can help with nausea and vomiting, especially postoperative nausea and vomiting.
A study investigated the effect of acetaminophen administered intravenously in reducing nausea in postoperative patients. Results showed that acetaminophen reduced nausea and vomiting associated with opioids in postoperative patients when it is given as a prophylactic either before surgery or before arrival in the postanesthetic care unit. However, it didn’t stop nausea and vomiting when it was given after the onset of pain. The author assumed that the prophylactically intravenous administration of acetaminophen reduced postoperative pain mainly through superior pain control.
A case study showed that a 30-year-old man with no previous medical history presented with one day of epigastric pain, nausea, and vomiting. He experienced moderate pain, aching and non-radiating pain. He reported that Tylenol provided minimal relief of his symptoms.
Another study published in 2020 examined the effect of scheduled intravenous acetaminophen on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. Patients who underwent laparoscopic gynecologic surgery were managed with either the hospital’s old protocol (Group 1) or a new protocol using scheduled intravenous acetaminophen (Group 2). Results showed that patients in Group 2 showed significantly lower incidences of postoperative nausea and vomiting from postoperative days 0 to 1 and required significantly less antiemetics or tramadol compared with patients in Group 1
What are the side effects of Tylenol?
As mentioned above, Tylenol administration doesn’t help with nausea, however, nausea and vomiting are among the commonly reported side effects of Tylenol. The common side effects of acetaminophen include the following:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Sweating
- Itchiness
How do you cope with nausea?
There are several nonpharmacological treatments that can help you with nausea.
These include the following:
- Try to get plenty of fresh air
- Eat small meals frequently. This could decrease the sensation of over feeling that could help you with nausea.
- Avoid certain types of foods that can irritate your stomach such as spicy foods, foods with unpleasant odors, salty foods, and fatty foods)
- You need to wear loose-fitting clothes
- Drinking ginger and peppermint tea can help with nausea.
- Avoid eating too quickly
- Don’t lie down soon after eating
FAQs
1. Is Tylenol same as paracetamol?
Both are two generic names for the same chemical compound known as para-acetylaminophenol.
Both Tylenol and paracetamol are used to relieve pain and reduce fever. Paracetamol is known as acetaminophen in the USA.
2. Can I take Tylenol on an empty stomach?
The answer is yes.
Unlike the NSAID, Tylenol is nonirritant and doesn’t harm your stomach and you can take it on an empty stomach.
3. Is Tylenol better for upset stomach?
In case you need to use a pain reliever with stomach upset, Tylenol is your best choice.
Tylenol is found to be gentile with your stomach with no irritation or harmful effects on the stomach similar to that reported with other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen. Therefore, you can take Tylenol safely even if you suffer from stomach upset.
4. Does Tylenol make nausea worse?
The answer is yes. Tylenol can worsen nausea.
Nausea is the most common side effect of Tylenol overdose.
A high dose of Tylenol can lead to sweating, nausea, and vomiting that appear in the first 24 hours after administration. These symptoms may go away within 72 hours after Tylenol administration.
