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.

Drug Information -- Tylenol With Codeine

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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