I don’t even have to ask. I already know you have those days where you just want to tell your fibromyalgia where it can be shoved. Or maybe you’d prefer the religious route: set it on fire and send it to hell. But this article isn’t about wallowing in misery any more than it’s about getting rid of fibro for good. Because, let’s face it: if we don’t know what causes this abomination (I mean, condition), then we surely don’t know how to cure it. To rub our faces in this just a little more, not all fibro treatments or medications are helpful for everyone in the same ways. Everyone is different, and unfortunately, a medication prescribed for one person simply can’t be guaranteed to work for the next patient.
With this in mind, most of us will supplement pain therapy prescriptions with over-the-counter (OTC) medications. There are always risks associated with these medications, especially when you’re taking prescription medications. But there are some options for OTC medications that are safer and have fewer side effects than some of the well-known non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin. Right now we’re going to talk about acetaminophen. While it’s also known as paracetamol or APAP, we’ll just refer to it by its more common brand name of Tylenol.
While it can actually be prescribed by a doctor, Tylenol is a very common OTC medication used to treat mild to moderate health issues like fever and headaches. It’s also used to treat muscle aches and pain from injuries. In fact, you may be one of those unlucky fibro patients who also suffer from arthritis and use Tylenol to help with some of your joint pain. Although, it probably doesn’t treat your underlying inflammation near as well as NSAIDs like ibuprofen. Tylenol is also used as an effective pain-reliever after surgery. Best of all, Tylenol is cheap and easy to find. Oh… and it’s legal!
How does Tylenol help fibromyalgia?
Strangely, researchers are not completely sure how it works. Ok, this should throw up big red flags. But Tylenol has been around for decades and it works. So I guess we do what the pharmaceutical companies want: we just close our eyes and take the darn pill. At any rate, here’s what they do know: it functions similarly to a COX-2 inhibitor, but is highly selective. There are a number of studies that hint at how it inhibits pain, but scientists have yet to reach an agreement about the results. They also know that it shares some similarities with ibuprofen, for example, but Tylenol doesn’t fully mirror NSAID chemical reactions in the body. It’s actually considered a type of mild analgesic (painkiller) and anti-pyretic (anti-fever), and it’s frequently used for these reasons. Since the main characteristic of fibromyalgia is widespread pain, it makes sense that the painkiller found in acetaminophen actually works for a lot of fibro patients.
Is it safe to use Tylenol for fibromyalgia?
Taken in recommended doses, Tylenol is considered relatively safe. As always, you need to talk with your health care provider and let them know beforehand any and all medications, herbs, vitamins, and even health supplements you are taking on a regular basis. Some of these may have the potential to inhibit or interact in dangerous ways with acetaminophen. It can be safe to take Tylenol for fibromyalgia, but you also have to be careful not to overdo it. Too much acetaminophen can have very destructive, even deadly consequences, including, but not limited to:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Allergic reaction
- Trouble breathing
- Fever
- Rash
- Nausea
- Vertigo
- Vomiting
- Extreme fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Flu-like symptoms
- Confusion
- Fatal liver damage (especially when combined with alcohol)
- Asthma
There are even some studies suggesting a link between acetaminophen and kidney cancer. Again, it is vital to discuss everything you are taking with your health care provider before adding more medications. Typically, few people have any severe or long lasting negative side effects from Tylenol, which is why it’s so common. But if you have fibromyalgia, you know how sensitive you can be to even the most mainstream medications or substances. So just be cautious and ask your doctor.
Will It Help Me?
It’s like my acupuncturist always says to me, “Well, that’s the $10M question, now isn’t it? If I knew the answer to that, I’d be a rich man.” Everyone is different. I repeat: EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT. Some people do experience a degree of pain relief, especially in conjunction with other medications, but others notice little or no benefit. Since inflammation is not actually a symptom of fibromyalgia, some doctors feel that acetaminophen is more effective than NSAIDs like ibuprofen. Again, because everyone is different, so too is each instance of fibromyalgia. It is something you just have to try for yourself. Tylenol rarely does anything for me personally. Does it help you?
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