{"id":7174,"date":"2019-11-22T17:26:45","date_gmt":"2019-11-22T22:26:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=7174"},"modified":"2026-04-03T12:33:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T16:33:09","slug":"tylenol-with-codeine-hydrocodone-oxycodone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/tylenol-with-codeine-hydrocodone-oxycodone\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s best for pain relief? Tylenol with codeine, hydrocodone, or oxycodone"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tylenol<\/a> | Tylenol with codeine<\/a> | Tylenol with hydrocodone<\/a> | Tylenol with oxycodone<\/a> | Dosage & storage<\/a> | Serious side effects<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Recovering from an injury, surgery, long-term illness, or other serious health condition can be painful, to say the least. Natural remedies and over-the-counter medicine sometimes just don\u2019t cut it. In that case, your doctor may prescribe Tylenol with codeine, hydrocodone, or oxycodone to alleviate the pain you\u2019re experiencing. Before taking these medications, which are all a type of narcotic, learn about each acetaminophen combination. Use the table below for quick data retrieval or continue reading to find out what each narcotic does, why it may be prescribed to you, and the side effects you may experience while taking these prescription-strength painkillers.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nTylenol with codeine<\/b><\/td>\nTylenol with hydrocodone<\/b><\/td>\nTylenol with oxycodone<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pain level<\/b><\/td>\nMild to moderate short-term pain<\/span><\/td>\nModerate short-term pain<\/span><\/td>\nModerate to severe chronic pain<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Common conditions<\/b><\/td>\nMinor surgeries, severe coughing<\/span><\/td>\nFibromyalgia, muscle or back pain, arthritis<\/span><\/td>\nHead injuries, recent surgeries, chronic pain<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Side effects<\/b><\/td>\nLightheadedness, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, constipation<\/span><\/td>\nStomach pain, loss of appetite, itching, nausea, constipation<\/span><\/td>\nFatigue, headache, dry mouth, nausea, constipation<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Brand names<\/b><\/td>\nTylenol 3<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Tylenol 4<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nVicodin<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Norco<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nPercocet<\/span><\/a>, Roxicet<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Tylenol (acetaminophen)<\/span><\/h2>\n

Tylenol<\/span><\/a>, or acetaminophen (pronounced as \u201ca-SEET-a-MIN-o-fen\u201d), is an analgesic medicine that treats mild to moderate pain and reduces fever. It\u2019s available over the counter and is commonly used to treat headaches, back pain, and muscle aches. It is generally safe to take; however, rare side effects may include a severe skin reaction called Stevens-Johnson syndrome, skin swelling (angioedema), hives, shortness of breath, or dizziness. Taking too much Tylenol can damage your liver or even cause a fatal overdose. Pain in your upper stomach, loss of appetite, dark urine, or jaundice may require immediate medical attention.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tylenol with codeine<\/span><\/h2>\n

Codeine<\/span><\/a> (pronounced as \u201cKOE-deen\u201d) is a part of the opioid drug class. Codeine works by changing the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain, while acetaminophen changes the way the body senses pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Acetaminophen-codeine<\/span><\/a> generally comes in the form of immediate-release oral tablets. Some of the more popular brands can be found in the form of Tylenol 3 or Tylenol 4. Tylenol 3 contains 300 mg of acetaminophen mixed with 30 mg of codeine. Tylenol 4 has 300 mg of acetaminophen and 60 mg of codeine. These drugs are only available with a prescription from your doctor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why it\u2019s prescribed<\/span><\/h3>\n

The combination of acetaminophen and codeine is best for mild to moderate short-term pain, as a result of a recent injury or surgery. For example, a doctor may prescribe a mixture of acetaminophen and codeine phosphate for those who are undergoing a <\/span>tonsillectomy<\/span><\/a>, adenoid removal, or <\/span>hand surgery<\/span><\/a>. It\u2019s sometimes prescribed to treat coughing, too. Opioids are believed to <\/span>treat coughing<\/span><\/a> by suppressing the part of the brain responsible for generating the cough mechanism (1). More <\/span>recent studies<\/span><\/a> have not shown the benefit of opioids and coughing that older studies have.<\/span><\/p>\n

Side effects of Tylenol with codeine<\/span><\/h3>\n

Common side effects of acetaminophen with codeine include:<\/span><\/p>\n