Tylenol with Codeine

Tylenol with Codeine is a medication used for treating mild to moderate pain. It is a combination drug that contains a narcotic opioid pain reliever and a pain reliever/fever reducer commonly found in over-the-counter medicines. Tylenol with Codeine is available by prescription only, and comes in tablet and liquid form. Potential side effects include nausea, drowsiness, and constipation.

 

What Is Tylenol with Codeine?

Tylenol® with Codeine (acetaminophen with codeine) is a prescription pain medication approved to treat mild to moderate pain. Because it contains codeine, a narcotic, this medication is classified as a controlled substance, which means that special regulations and laws control its sale and use.
 
(Click Tylenol with Codeine Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)
 

How Does It Work?

Tylenol with Codeine contains two different medications: acetaminophen and codeine phosphate. Codeine is a narcotic, opioid pain reliever. It is effective at decreasing pain and relieving coughing, but also causes drowsiness, mood changes, and mental "clouding." Codeine itself is not effective for relieving pain; in the liver, certain enzymes metabolize codeine into morphine (which is effective for relieving pain). Some people who have lower-than-normal functioning of certain metabolizing enzymes in the liver may not get much pain relief from codeine, since they will not adequately metabolize codeine into morphine.
 
Acetaminophen ("APAP") is a pain reliever and fever reducer commonly found in non-prescription medications such as Tylenol®. "APAP" is an acronym for one of the chemical names for acetaminophen. Combining codeine with acetaminophen helps improve Tylenol with Codeine's effectiveness at relieving pain.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;