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Tylenol PM can help you sleep when you’re in pain or traveling. But relying on the over-the-counter medication for more than a few nights in a row may do more harm than good. “Using Tylenol PM is generally safe and useful for temporary sleep disturbances such as jet lag or other short-term stressors in patients younger than 65. It should not be used for treating chronic insomnia,” says Carla Podgurecki, MD , a family medicine physician with Texas Health Fort Worth. Here’s a closer look at Tylenol PM, its recommended use, and potential side effects.
Ingredients What ’ s in Tylenol PM? Tylenol PM is a pain reliever as well as a sleep aid. It contains two active ingredients: Acetaminophen is an analgesic (painkiller) and fever reducer that cools the body and changes the way the body senses pain. It can be used to relieve discomfort from problems like headaches, muscle aches, cramps, sore throat, and toothaches. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine that has sedative effects. In addition to relieving allergy symptoms like itching, a runny nose, and irritated or watery eyes, diphenhydramine acts on the central nervous system to cause drowsiness, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. Tylenol PM isn’t the only pain reliever–sedative combination that is available over the counter. Medications such as Excedrin PM, Unisom SleepGels, and ZzzQuil also contain diphenhydramine, Dr. Podgurecki notes. Diphenhydramine is the active ingredient in allergy medicines like Benadryl too.
Recommended Frequency How Often Can You Take Tylenol PM? Tylenol PM is intended to provide short-term relief from temporary sleep problems, not as a treatment for insomnia. “If you are using it for more than three consecutive nights, then you should discuss your sleep issues with your doctor,” says Podgurecki.
Long-Term Effects Long-Term Effects of Taking Tylenol PM Pain relievers with diphenhydramine are generally considered safe for adults under 65. But they can be harmful when taken regularly, for the following reasons: 1. It May Mask an Underlying Sleep Problem It’s not uncommon to have a short bout of sleep struggles here or there, especially if you’re sick, injured, or traveling. But needing a medication like Tylenol PM to fall asleep every night could mean you have an underlying problem that isn’t being addressed. “To improve sleep, it’s important to know why falling asleep or staying asleep is difficult, because the treatment options are specific to the cause,” Podgurecki says. Common culprits include pain, anxiety, depression, restless legs, sleep apnea, shift work disorder, chronic insomnia, and poor sleep hygiene. Whatever the cause, it’s worth a discussion with your doctor to better understand your treatment options. 2. It Can Become Less Effective Over Time The body quickly develops a tolerance to medications like Tylenol PM.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629da050be5-24ec-4afd-b339-6467b9ccd98c Before long, you may find that the dose that originally helped you fall asleep is no longer doing the trick. “Quality of sleep becomes worse, and the person may have grogginess the next day,” says Podgurecki. “And, in some people, it can paradoxically stimulate the central nervous system, which can result in difficulty sleeping.” 3. It Can Lead to Liver Damage Consistent, long-term use of acetaminophen can be harmful to your liver.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c955021b-2e53-4003-b05b-b0f8e4a10eee That’s especially true if you also drink heavily. “There’s an increased risk of acute liver damage with taking chronic high doses if someone consumes more than three alcoholic drinks per day,” says Podgurecki. Mixing sleep aids like Tylenol PM with alcohol or other sedatives can also increase the risk of overdosing and death. 4. You May Experience Withdrawal Symptoms When You Stop Taking It Once your body gets used to a nightly dose of Tylenol PM, abruptly stopping can cause problems. There’s a good chance you’ll experience rebound insomnia, where your sleep difficulties come back worse than before.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292eef15bb-e76d-4437-ac03-557a1290e839 “Abrupt cessation of high doses can also cause acute withdrawal symptoms manifested by high fever, hypertension, and bowel and bladder incontinence,” Podgurecki says.
Contraindications Who Shouldn’t Take Tylenol PM? Adults over 65 shouldn’t take medications containing diphenhydramine at all. “They metabolize medications slower and are more likely to have medication interactions,” says Podgurecki. That can increase the risk of dangerous side effects such as cognitive impairment, agitation, psychosis, dry mouth, blurry vision, increased eye pressure, constipation, urinary retention, and falls. You should also avoid taking diphenhydramine completely if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or have health problems such as closed-angle glaucoma, peptic ulcer, or urinary retention.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629810f443d-90e6-47a6-9376-54382b5494b1
Alternatives Alternatives to Taking Tylenol PM It’s important to talk with your doctor if you’re regularly having trouble sleeping. Together, you can determine the underlying cause and decide on a treatment that’s safe and effective. Your doctor may recommend that you: Focus on sleep hygiene. Getting exercise during the day, sticking with a regular bedtime routine, limiting the use of electronics before bed, practicing relaxation techniques, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol are go-to first steps for getting a better night’s sleep, Podgurecki says. If you don’t want to stop drinking coffee or alcohol entirely, try avoiding these drinks when it’s close to bedtime. Try cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). A proven treatment for insomnia, CBT teaches behavioral strategies that may make it easier to fall asleep without the need for medications.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ec8b1bc6-c281-4070-a562-87d5e0ca242d Schedule a sleep study. If your doctor suspects that you have an underlying medical problem such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome, a sleep study can confirm the diagnosis so that you can start treatment.
The Takeaway Tylenol PM can be used for temporary sleep issues, such as pain or jet lag, but it should not be used for more than three consecutive nights. Prolonged use can lead to decreased effectiveness, potential liver damage from acetaminophen, and withdrawal symptoms, and it may hide underlying sleep disorders that require a different treatment. Certain groups, including adults over 65, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and people with specific health conditions, should avoid diphenhydramine. For chronic sleep problems, alternatives like good sleep hygiene, CBT for insomnia, or consulting a doctor for a sleep study are recommended.
Ingredients What ’ s in Tylenol PM? Tylenol PM is a pain reliever as well as a sleep aid. It contains two active ingredients: Acetaminophen is an analgesic (painkiller) and fever reducer that cools the body and changes the way the body senses pain. It can be used to relieve discomfort from problems like headaches, muscle aches, cramps, sore throat, and toothaches. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine that has sedative effects. In addition to relieving allergy symptoms like itching, a runny nose, and irritated or watery eyes, diphenhydramine acts on the central nervous system to cause drowsiness, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. Tylenol PM isn’t the only pain reliever–sedative combination that is available over the counter. Medications such as Excedrin PM, Unisom SleepGels, and ZzzQuil also contain diphenhydramine, Dr. Podgurecki notes. Diphenhydramine is the active ingredient in allergy medicines like Benadryl too.
Recommended Frequency How Often Can You Take Tylenol PM? Tylenol PM is intended to provide short-term relief from temporary sleep problems, not as a treatment for insomnia. “If you are using it for more than three consecutive nights, then you should discuss your sleep issues with your doctor,” says Podgurecki.
Long-Term Effects Long-Term Effects of Taking Tylenol PM Pain relievers with diphenhydramine are generally considered safe for adults under 65. But they can be harmful when taken regularly, for the following reasons: 1. It May Mask an Underlying Sleep Problem It’s not uncommon to have a short bout of sleep struggles here or there, especially if you’re sick, injured, or traveling. But needing a medication like Tylenol PM to fall asleep every night could mean you have an underlying problem that isn’t being addressed. “To improve sleep, it’s important to know why falling asleep or staying asleep is difficult, because the treatment options are specific to the cause,” Podgurecki says. Common culprits include pain, anxiety, depression, restless legs, sleep apnea, shift work disorder, chronic insomnia, and poor sleep hygiene. Whatever the cause, it’s worth a discussion with your doctor to better understand your treatment options. 2. It Can Become Less Effective Over Time The body quickly develops a tolerance to medications like Tylenol PM.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629da050be5-24ec-4afd-b339-6467b9ccd98c Before long, you may find that the dose that originally helped you fall asleep is no longer doing the trick. “Quality of sleep becomes worse, and the person may have grogginess the next day,” says Podgurecki. “And, in some people, it can paradoxically stimulate the central nervous system, which can result in difficulty sleeping.” 3. It Can Lead to Liver Damage Consistent, long-term use of acetaminophen can be harmful to your liver.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c955021b-2e53-4003-b05b-b0f8e4a10eee That’s especially true if you also drink heavily. “There’s an increased risk of acute liver damage with taking chronic high doses if someone consumes more than three alcoholic drinks per day,” says Podgurecki. Mixing sleep aids like Tylenol PM with alcohol or other sedatives can also increase the risk of overdosing and death. 4. You May Experience Withdrawal Symptoms When You Stop Taking It Once your body gets used to a nightly dose of Tylenol PM, abruptly stopping can cause problems. There’s a good chance you’ll experience rebound insomnia, where your sleep difficulties come back worse than before.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292eef15bb-e76d-4437-ac03-557a1290e839 “Abrupt cessation of high doses can also cause acute withdrawal symptoms manifested by high fever, hypertension, and bowel and bladder incontinence,” Podgurecki says.
Contraindications Who Shouldn’t Take Tylenol PM? Adults over 65 shouldn’t take medications containing diphenhydramine at all. “They metabolize medications slower and are more likely to have medication interactions,” says Podgurecki. That can increase the risk of dangerous side effects such as cognitive impairment, agitation, psychosis, dry mouth, blurry vision, increased eye pressure, constipation, urinary retention, and falls. You should also avoid taking diphenhydramine completely if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or have health problems such as closed-angle glaucoma, peptic ulcer, or urinary retention.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629810f443d-90e6-47a6-9376-54382b5494b1
Alternatives Alternatives to Taking Tylenol PM It’s important to talk with your doctor if you’re regularly having trouble sleeping. Together, you can determine the underlying cause and decide on a treatment that’s safe and effective. Your doctor may recommend that you: Focus on sleep hygiene. Getting exercise during the day, sticking with a regular bedtime routine, limiting the use of electronics before bed, practicing relaxation techniques, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol are go-to first steps for getting a better night’s sleep, Podgurecki says. If you don’t want to stop drinking coffee or alcohol entirely, try avoiding these drinks when it’s close to bedtime. Try cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). A proven treatment for insomnia, CBT teaches behavioral strategies that may make it easier to fall asleep without the need for medications.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ec8b1bc6-c281-4070-a562-87d5e0ca242d Schedule a sleep study. If your doctor suspects that you have an underlying medical problem such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome, a sleep study can confirm the diagnosis so that you can start treatment.
The Takeaway Tylenol PM can be used for temporary sleep issues, such as pain or jet lag, but it should not be used for more than three consecutive nights. Prolonged use can lead to decreased effectiveness, potential liver damage from acetaminophen, and withdrawal symptoms, and it may hide underlying sleep disorders that require a different treatment. Certain groups, including adults over 65, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and people with specific health conditions, should avoid diphenhydramine. For chronic sleep problems, alternatives like good sleep hygiene, CBT for insomnia, or consulting a doctor for a sleep study are recommended.
