When my daughter came to visit a couple of months ago she brought her cold with her! She plopped down on the couch and waited for me to make chicken soup (canned). I sent my husband to CVS where he bought Tylenol Cold for $5.29. I don’t get colds often and neither does my husband but it seems that this bug which she got at work, apparently, spread to us. I felt lousy before my husband. I can tell immediately when I am getting sick. It starts with a funny feeling in my throat causing me to swallow a lot. Then it goes to a sore throat and finally a stuffy nose or drippy and congestion.

About the product:

There are 24 gelcaps to a package. Initially I was apprehensive when I saw them because I thought they were capsules. They aren’t. For those of you too young to remember awhile back there were some incidents of poison being put into the capsules which can be opened. These can’t. They are one piece. I really like them because they are slippery so they go down easily. I don’t swallow pills well, so the easier the better for me.

The active ingredients are:

~Acetaminophen 325 mg for pain and fever. Those were two symptoms none of us had with this bug.
~Dextromethorphan HBr 15 mg which is a cough suppressant
~Pseudoephedrine HCI 30mg which is a nasal decongestant.

The inactive ingredients are benzy alcohol, butylparaben, castor oil, cellulose, corn starch, d&c yellow #10, edetate calcium disodium, fd&c red#40, gelatin, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, iron oxide, magnesium stearate, methylparaben, propylparaban, sodium laural sulfate, sodium propionate, sodium starch glycolate, tatanium dioxide.

~Most importantly for me it is advertised as non-drowsy. Though you might think I would want to sleep the regular formulas do make me sleep but I also wake up feeling groggy. I also don’t want to sleep if I am not too sick and want to go to work, but need something to help with the cold symptoms. I found that the non-drowsy formula really doesn’t make me sleepy.

~The caplets come in a blister pack with two to a section. In spite of the fact that the back of each section has a fold/pull arrow which suggests it is easy to open, it isn’t. I still needed to cut it with a scissors. I have no problem with that because it is certainly tamper proof, but be aware if someone has arthritis or other condition that doesn’t allow them to open this type of pack, they will need help.

Warnings:

~We are told to stop using this or speak with your doctor if you become nervous, (the ephedrine in it is what can cause nervousness) dizzy or if it causes you to not be able to sleep. Ask your doctor before using it if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, diabetes or difficulty in urination due to enlargement of the prostrate gland.

~Adults and children over 12 should take 2 gelcaps every 6 hours and not more than 8 in a 24-hour period unless your doctor says to. Children 6-11 can take 1 gelcap every 6 hours but shouldn’t take more than 4 in 24 hours and do not give this to children under the age of 6.

~We are told not to use Tylenol Cold (and you will find this on any similar product) if you take certain drugs for depression, psychiatric or emotional conditions or have Parkinson’s disease, or for 2 weeks after stopping the MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) drug. If you aren’t sure if your medication contains an ask your doctor. I do take medication that is an MAOI but my doctor has told me is it all right for me to take over-the-counter pain relievers of any sort so I don’t check in every time I take a product such as this. It will depend on what you are taking and the quantity, but you really must check with your doctor. There are pain relievers that can be taken more safely if you are on an MAOI but it could be a prescription drug that you would need. Please, please ask your doctor just to be on the safe side.

~We are also given a warning that if we drink 3 or more alcoholic beverages each day, talk with your doctor before taking this product. Aceteminophen may cause liver damage.

~Do not take for pain for more than 7 days or for fever for more than 3 days unless directed by a doctor. We are also cautioned that if other symptoms that occur such as vomiting or a rash we should talk with our doctors. This product is not to be used to treat a chronic cough that you may have due to smoking or asthma.

~Tylenol does not have to be taken with food or milk.

~If you are pregnant or nursing check with your doctor before taking this (and any) medication.

~Even though the packs are difficult to open keep this medication (and all) out of the reach of children.

~Check for the expiration date which you’ll find on the side of the box.

The company:

"McNeil Consumer Healthcare, the makers of TYLENOL®, believes reliability, trustworthiness and compassion are among the most important qualities caregivers bring to their work. Through a $200,000 grant provided by McNeil, VIMI will assist interested communities in establishing healthcare clinics in their areas. It is our sincerest hope that through the shared vision of McNeil and VIMI, people in need will receive the care and attention they deserve."
http://www.tylenol.com/vimi/

Other Tylenol products include Tylenol Flu, Tylenol Sinus and Tylenol Allergy Sinus. For a full line of products go to http://www.tylenol.com/products/adult/index.htm

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a health advisory asking us not to use anything with phenylpropanolamine hydrachloride (PPA). All Tylenol products are PPA free.

In summary,

I highly recommend Tylenol Cold for the relief of cold symptoms and nasal congestion. It has worked for me over the years with out any complications whatsoever and doesn’t make me drowsy. My husband and daughter also had the same results when they used it. My husband has asthma but his doctor has approved his use of Tylenol Cold.

Some of the material above comes from the package.

An excellent page on Tylenol's website is this: http://www.tylenol.com/faqs/index.htm


Recommended: Yes