Tylenol

Madelynne Orsini Block: C TYLENOL IUPAC Name: Acetaminophen Chemical Formula: CH3CONHC6H4OH  Molar mass: 151.17g/mol Density: 1.2083 g/mL Melt. Point: 336°F-342°F Boiling Point: N/A, as it decomposes Elements: Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen

 **How is it made?** Acetaminophen can be made with p-aminophenol [C6H4(OH)(NH2)] and an aqueous solution of acetic anhydride [(CH3CO)2O] . Acetaminophen is an oderless, bitter tasting white crystalline power. It is soluble in solvents such as methanol and ethanol, but only slightly soluble in water and ether. It has a pH range of 5.5--6.5. Acetaminophen is derived from the reaction of p-aminophenol and an aquesous solution of acetic anhydride. Acetaminophen is a non-prescription analgesic drug similar to aspirin. Taking large doses of acetaminophen for a long time may impair liver function or do some liver damage. Paracetamol (para-acetyl-amino-phenol) is another name for acetaminophen (N-acetyl-para-amino-phenol). It is also used as an intermediate for pharmaceuticals (as a precursor in penicillin) as a stabilizer for hydrogen peroxide, and for photographic chemicals.

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**Tylenol's History** Acetaminophen was first discovered in 1852 by a French chemist Charles Frederic Gerhardt. His results were largely ignored, until a German chemist named Harmon Northrop Morse re-discovered and synthesized the compound in 1873. Even then, the medicinal qualities of the compound were not appreciated for another twenty years, and the compound was not even prescribed or used by doctors until 1949. Since that time, however, it has become extremely popular, exceeded only by aspirin as the most popular analgesic sold in the world.

**How should I use this medication? **  Acetaminophen can be used by all age groups safely in recommended doses. Following are recommended doses according to age group: **0 to under 4 months: ** 40 mg every 4 to 6 hours to a maximum of 200 mg in one day **4 to under 12 months: ** 80 mg every 4 to 6 hours to a maximum of 400 mg in one day **12 to under 24 months: ** 120 mg every 4 to 6 hours to a maximum of 600 mg in one day **<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">2 to under 4 years: **<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;"> 160 mg every 4 to 6 hours to a maximum of 800 mg in one day **<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">4 to under 6 years: **<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;"> 240 mg every 4 to 6 hours to a maximum of 1,200 mg in one day **<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">6 to under 9 years: **<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;"> 320 mg every 4 to 6 hours to a maximum of 1,600 mg in one day **<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">9 to under 11 years: **<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;"> 400 mg every 4 to 6 hours to a maximum of 2,000 mg in one day **<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">11 to under 12 years: **<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;"> 480 mg every 4 to 6 hours to a maximum of 2,400 mg in one day **<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">Children (general): **<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">10 to 15 mg per kg of body weight, every 4 to 6 hours, to a maximum of 65 mg/kg in 24 hours **<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">Adults: **<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;"> 325 mg to 650 mg every 4 to 6 hours to a maximum of 4,000 mg in 24 hours

**How does Tylenol effect our body?** Acetaminophen is generally used to for anti-inflammatory purposes. It is completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and starts working within the hour, it is fairly equally distributed in the body. Tylenol is a pain reliever and a fever reducer. Tylenol helps elevate our pain threshold (meaning that it takes a lot more pain than usual for us to feel it), and -in fevers-, where the body temperature is significantly higher, tylenol lowers the body temperature by going to the center of the brain and telling it to lower the core body temperature. Tylenol is used to treat many conditions such as headache, muscle aches, arthritis (although not at the source), backache, toothaches, colds, and fevers. However, Tylenol can cause damage to the liver, it should not be used by individuals with a history of alcoholism. As alcohol does considerable damage to the liver by itself, the combination of alcohol and acetaminophen can cause huge health ramifications, such as the liver shutting down.

**Interesting Facts about Tylenol**

**<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">Chicago Tylenol murders: ** <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;"> In 1982, the Johnson & Johnson company's 'Tylenol' was tampered with, resulting in 7 deaths across Chicago. These poisonings involved extra strength tylenol capsules that had been laced with potassium cyanide <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 10px;">[|.] <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;"> The murders led to changes in the federal anti-tampering laws and how cautiously companies packaged over-the-counter medication <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">[|.] <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;"> Johnson & Johnson offered a $100,000 reward for the capture of the "Tylenol Killer," however, the killer was never caught. Because of the Chicago Tylenol murders, drug companies everywhere looked for ways to improve the sealing on their products.

Acetaminophen was approved by the FDA in 1951.