How to Take Tylenol Arthritis: Dosage, Safety Info, and More

Co-authored by Meera Subash, MD and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: November 12, 2021 References

Tylenol Arthritis is a great over-the-counter option for relieving your achy joints. Whenever you’re having a minor flare-up from arthritis or osteoarthritis, Tylenol works to temporarily ease your pain. We know you might have a few questions about how to safely use Tylenol if you just picked some up, but you can find all the answers you need right here!

Question 1

Question 1 of 8:
How many Tylenol Arthritis can I take?

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You can take 2 caplets every 8 hours. Each Tylenol Arthritis tablet has 650 mg of acetaminophen to help ease your pain and aches. Whenever you start feeling joint pain, simply swallow 2 tablets whole along with some water.^{[1]
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- Tylenol Arthritis is only meant for adults who are 18 and older.
2
Avoid taking more than 6 tablets within 24 hours. If you’re still feeling pain, you can take another 2 pills 8 hours after your first dose. Keep track of how many Tylenol Arthritis tablets you’ve taken so you don’t accidentally go over the maximum dosage. If you’ve already taken 6 pills within the day, look for another way to treat your pain instead.^{[2]
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- Taking too much Tylenol Arthritis could lead to nausea, diarrhea, or liver damage.
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Question 2

Question 2 of 8:
How long does it take for Tylenol Arthritis to take effect?

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You’ll feel relief within 1–2 hours. Tylenol Arthritis has a quick-dissolving layer that starts breaking down right after you swallow it so you can get pain relief fast. Within the first hour or two, your joint pain will start to go away.^{[3]
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Research source} Then, the rest of the pill breaks down slowly to help ease your pain throughout the day.^{[4]
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- One dose can last up to 8 hours.

Question 3

Question 3 of 8:
Is it safe to take Tylenol Arthritis long-term?

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No, don’t use it for more than 10 days unless a doctor tells you to. Tylenol only provides temporary relief, so persistent or worsening pain could be a sign there’s something more serious causing it. Stop using Tylenol and talk to your doctor to see if there are any other treatment options you can try. They may say it’s alright to keep using Tylenol, but they may recommend something else.^{[5]
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Question 4

Question 4 of 8:
What are the side effects of Tylenol Arthritis?

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You may develop nausea or vomiting. Sometimes, pain relievers can give you an upset stomach when you’re taking them, but it's usually pretty mild. If you’re feeling a little nauseous, know that it’s completely normal after using Tylenol. Just try to drink some more water to help ease your stomach.^{[6]
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Cleveland Clinic
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High doses of Tylenol could cause liver damage. The maximum dose of acetaminophen you can take daily is 4,000 mg, and anything higher than that severely hurts your liver. Only use the minimum dosage of Tylenol and never take more than recommended.^{[7]
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Arthritis Foundation
Main organization devoted to arthritis support and education
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Question 5

Question 5 of 8:
Is Tylenol Arthritis bad for your kidneys?

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No, acetaminophen in Tylenol doesn’t harm your kidneys. Painkillers that contain NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, can lead to kidney damage if you take too much or if you already have existing kidney conditions.^{[8]
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Research source} However, Tylenol Arthritis only contains acetaminophen, so it’s safe for you to use.^{[9]
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MedlinePlus
Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine
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Question 6

Question 6 of 8:
Who shouldn’t use Tylenol Arthritis?

1
Avoid Tylenol when you’re taking other forms of acetaminophen. Many prescription and over-the-counter medicines for cold and fever may have acetaminophen as an active ingredient. Always read through the ingredients list for each medication you take to ensure that they don’t contain acetaminophen, or else you could damage your liver.^{[10]
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Arthritis Foundation
Main organization devoted to arthritis support and education
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- Acetaminophen may be listed as “APAP” on codeine, hydrocodone, or oxycodone prescriptions.
2
Talk to your doctor before taking Tylenol if you have liver disease. Since acetaminophen can affect your liver, Tylenol could be more harmful if you already have liver conditions. Mention to your doctor that you have liver disease and arthritis pain, and they’ll let you know if Tylenol Arthritis is safe for you to use. They may also give other recommendations you can try to relieve your pain.^{[11]
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Consult your doctor if you're on warfarin. Warfarin is a type of blood thinner, and the acetaminophen in Tylenol could cause it to stay in your system longer. Since that puts you at a higher risk for bleeding, it might be unsafe to use both medications at the same time. Ask your doctor about the risks and if they still recommend taking Tylenol.^{[12]
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Trustworthy Source
Arthritis Foundation
Main organization devoted to arthritis support and education
Go to source}

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Question 7

Question 7 of 8:
What is the difference between Tylenol and Tylenol Arthritis?

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Tylenol Arthritis has a slightly higher dose of acetaminophen. Regular Tylenol tablets only have 325 mg of acetaminophen and even Extra-Strength caplets contain 500 mg.^{[13]
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Research source} Tylenol Arthritis has 650 mg per tablet, so it’ll work to relieve more intense pain for a longer amount of time.^{[14]
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- Both Tylenol and Tylenol Arthritis have the same ingredients, so it doesn’t specifically target joint pain.

Question 8

Question 8 of 8:
Is Tylenol or ibuprofen better for arthritis?

1
Tylenol will work more effectively for your joint pain. Tylenol contains acetaminophen, which treats nerve pain in your joints.^{[15]
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Expert Source

Meera Subash, MD
Board Certified Rheumatologist
Expert Interview. 5 February 2021.} Ibuprofen on the other hand works better for inflammation directly at the source of your pain, so it’s better for muscle strains and other body pain.^{[16]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
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- Ibuprofen may still help with arthritis pain, but not as effectively. You can always try alternating between Tylenol Arthritis and ibuprofen so you don’t have too high of a dose of either.
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Community Q&A

Question

When can I use Tylenol?

Meera Subash, MD
Board Certified Rheumatologist
Dr. Meera Subash is a board certified Rheumatologist and Internist. She specializes in scaling up healthcare technology solutions for rheumatic and chronic disease management. Dr. Subash holds a BA in Human Biology from Stanford University and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She completed a residency in Internal Medicine at The University of California, San Diego, where she served as Chief Resident in Quality and Patient Safety at The VA San Diego Healthcare System. Dr. Subash also completed a fellowship in Rheumatology at The University of California, San Francisco - School of Medicine. She is currently pursuing another fellowship in Clinical Informatics at The University of California, San Francisco - School of Medicine.

Meera Subash, MD

Board Certified Rheumatologist

Expert Answer

If you have knee pain due to osteoarthritis, you can opt for physical therapy, oral medications, or topical medications. You can take Tylenol or apply Voltaren gel to the knee.

Warnings

If you develop red skin, blisters, or a rash after taking acetaminophen, see a doctor right away since it’s a sign of an allergic reaction.^{[19]
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Avoid drinking 3 or more alcoholic drinks when you’re taking Tylenol Arthritis since it could damage your liver even more.^{[20]
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Arthritis Foundation
Main organization devoted to arthritis support and education
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