TYLENOL® and High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure

If you have high blood pressure or are taking medication to help manage high blood
pressure, you may be wondering which over-the-counter (OTC) pain relief options may
be right for you. TYLENOL® is here to help you answer some important questions.

Can I take TYLENOL® if I have high blood pressure?

TYLENOL® may be an appropriate pain relief option for you if you have high blood pressure.

TYLENOL® CONTAINS ACETAMINOPHEN AND MAY BE APPROPRIATE FOR PATIENTS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECTS THAT NSAIDS CAN HAVE ON BLOOD PRESSURE.

TYLENOL® DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH CERTAIN BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATIONS THE WAY NSAIDS SOMETIMES CAN.

UNLIKE SOME NSAIDS, THERE IS NO WARNING ON THE TYLENOL® OTC DRUG FACTS LABEL TO ASK A DOCTOR BEFORE USE IF YOU HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

Always read and follow your pain medication label

NSAIDs like ibuprofen (e.g. Advil®, MOTRIN®) and naproxen sodium (e.g. Aleve®) can
produce several effects on your body that may further worsen high lood pressure. NSAIDs can:

Impact sodium and water retention in the kidneys

Increase resistance of blood vessels (constricts
blood flow), which can raise blood pressure.

Additionally, NSAIDs have a clearly established mechanism of interaction between
certain high blood pressure treatments, such as diuretics, and can reduce the
effectiveness of previously prescribed high blood pressure treatments.

Similar effects have not been established for acetaminophen,
the active ingredient in TYLENOL®.

What about taking aspirin for heart health?

Some patients take aspirin to protect against heart attack or stroke. Ibuprofen, a common NSAID, may decrease that heart health benefit. If you have high blood pressure or heart disease or are on aspirin heart therapy, acetaminophen may be a more appropriate pain relief option for you.