Mixing Tylenol (Acetaminophen) and Prednisone: What You Should Know

Prednisone is a corticosteroid used to decrease inflammation in different diseases, including arthritis, severe allergic reactions, and multiple sclerosis. It works by lowering the activity of the immune system.

Tylenol (acetaminophen) is a pain reliever commonly used to manage mild to moderate pain from headaches, muscle aches, menstrual periods, colds and sore throats, toothaches, backaches, and reactions to vaccinations.

No interaction has been found between the two medications so far. You should always consult your healthcare provider before starting a new medication.

What Is Prednisone?

Prednisone is a glucocorticoid drug that contains steroids. These steroids (hydrocortisone and cortisone) work by lowering the activity of your immune system, which can help with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, where the immune system attacks healthy joint tissues and causes inflammation.

As such, prednisone is used in the treatment of different types of autoimmune diseases, which occur when the immune system attacks healthy cells.

This medication is also used to treat a number of other conditions:

• Blood disorders: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia, congenital hypoplastic anemia, leukemia, and lymphoma
• Skin diseases: Atopic dermatitis (eczema), severe psoriasis, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome
• Endocrine disorders: Addison’s disease and congenital hyperplasia
• Eye-related allergic reactions: Conjunctivitis (pink eye), keratitis (cornea inflammation), and optic neuritis (inflammation damaging the optic nerve)
• Rheumatic disorders: Gout, epicondylitis (tennis elbow), multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus
• Allergic reactions: Seasonal allergies, bronchial asthma, and drug hypersensitivity reactions
• Respiratory diseases: Asthma, berylliosis (metal poisoning caused by inhalation), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and Loeffler’s syndrome that’s not manageable by other means
• Gastrointestinal diseases: Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and ulcerative colitis
• Miscellaneous disorders: Trichinosis (roundworm infection) and tuberculous meningitis

Corticosteroid Warnings

Since corticosteroids lower the function of your immune system, taking them can increase your susceptibility to infection. If you are taking this medication, you should avoid being near people who are sick or have infections, and you should not receive live vaccines, such as the smallpox vaccine.

Corticosteroids can also mask signs of infection and increase a patient’s risk of developing severe and even fatal responses to infections such as chicken pox and measles in non-immune children and adults. Tuberculosis patients taking corticosteroids require additional monitoring due to the drug’s potential in reactivating the disease.

Taking average or large doses of prednisone can increase your blood pressure and cause salt and water retention, so dietary salt restriction may be necessary. Prednisone also results in increased excretion of potassium and calcium. Therefore, if you are on this medication, you should have those levels monitored by your healthcare provider. Supplementation may be necessary.

Stopping corticosteroids abruptly can lead to withdrawal symptoms.

What Is Tylenol? 

Tylenol is a brand of acetaminophen. As a pain reliever, it works by blocking your brain from releasing pain signals or increasing your brain’s pain threshold. As a fever reducer, it works by acting on your brain’s heat-regulating center (hypothalamus). 

 Conditions treated by Tylenol include:

• Backache
• Common cold
• Headache
• Muscle ache
• Premenstrual and menstrual cramps
• Toothache
• Fever

Acetaminophen Warnings

Taking too much acetaminophen can cause severe liver damage. Adult daily dosing should not exceed 3,250 mg within 24 hours, and children should not consume more than 1,625 mg within 24 hours.

Do not mix this drug with other medications containing acetaminophen. If you have liver disease or are taking the blood-thinning drug Warfarin, consult your healthcare provider before taking Tylenol. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask a healthcare professional about the risks before use.

Severe skin reactions (reddening, rashes, and blistering) can occur in people who are allergic to acetaminophen. If this happens, stop taking Tylenol and seek medical help immediately. 

Is it Safe to Take Prednisone With Tylenol? 

Generally speaking, it’s safe to take prednisone with Tylenol because no known drug interactions or drug and food interactions have been found. Always consult with your healthcare provider to discuss their recommendations.

A Word From Verywell

Tylenol and prednisone can be taken together so long as dosage and other safety guidelines for each are followed. Talk to your healthcare provider before starting, adjusting, or stopping any medication, and always mention any drug allergies or medical conditions.

Also, tell your healthcare provider about all the medications and supplements you are taking so they know whether prednisone and Tylenol are safe for you to use. If you are having an adverse reaction to either or both medications, seek help from a medical professional immediately.