Is Tylenol or Acetaminophen Rapid Release Really Worth the Extra Cost?

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Abstract

tration, while regular extra strength Tylenol took 30 minutes to start working. We are talking a mere 15-minute time difference, folks!However, this difference in speed of action comes at a price. Rapid-release Tylenol is typically more expensive than regular extra strength Tylenol. A rapid release version winds up being an average of 15–25 cents per capsule, while regular strength is around 10 cents. So, is it worth the extra cost?Whether rapid-release Tylenol is worth the extra cost depends on your individual needs. If you need pain relief quickly, such as if you are experiencing a severe migraine, then the faster onset of action of rapid-release Tylenol may be worth the extra cost. Your level of body pain on a scale of 1–10, with 10 being the worst ever, will also give you an idea of which may better serve you. However, if you are able to wait 15–30 minutes for pain relief, then regular extra strength Tylenol may be a more cost-effective option. And that was the option that I chose at Costco today.The truth of the matter is that rapid-release Tylenol can be 50% more expensive than regular extra strength Tylenol.Please Note: You will see that I use both Tylenol and Acetaminophen almost interchangeably in this article. That is because, from my experience, I have no shadow of a doubt in my mind from what I’ve read, heard, and experienced myself that both are exactly the same, likely made in the same factory!Why Someone May Not Wish to Pay More for Rapid-Release TylenolThere are a few reasons why someone may not wish to pay more for rapid-release Tylenol. First, the difference in speed of action is only 15 minutes difference from one vs. the other. This may not be a significant difference for everyone! Second, regular extra strength Tylenol is still a very effective pain reliever and fever reducer. Third, rapid-release Tylenol may be more likely to cause side effects, such as stomach upset and heartburn.PS…this is also why taking meds like Aleve, ibuprofen, aspirin, etc. which are considered NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) can wreak havoc over time on your gastrointestinal tract, causing heartburn and upset stomach, and our kidneys don’t particularly do well with them either! In fact, my Nephrologist (kidney specialist) told me to discard NSAIDS altogether. I used to eat them like little M&M’s! Not anymore!An additional note of concern for my readers who take NSAIDS:NSAIDs are not inherently bad for your joints. In fact, they can be very helpful for relieving pain and inflammation caused by arthritis and other joint conditions. However, long-term use of NSAIDs can increase the risk of joint damage, especially in people who are already at risk, such as those with osteoarthritis. I have had a Rheumatologist doctor friend confirm this.ConclusionSo today, I left my local Costco having b

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een the overly frugal, but very knowledgeable guy that I am, with the regular strength stuff. Equipped with two nice big bottles of 500 caplets each, and I suddenly felt like being the “Tylenol Fairy”, asking random people in the parking lot if they were in pain! I could have been the very blessing someone needed, who found themselves inflicted with a stubborn body aches or headache!I am including my hilarious comparison photos for your viewing pleasure below. You will see that I came out of Costco having paid only $1.78 for both the twin pack of 1000 Acetaminophen PLUS this massive soft plush chinchilla pillow to go on my Henredon$ 8000 sectional sofa which I got for $300, but that’s another story altogether. I was able to do this, because when I signed up for my Costco membership, I went and typed into Google, “Costco Discounts Coupon Codes”, and viola! Found that if I purchased a$ 60 business membership online, I’d get a free $30 Costco gift card, which I decided to use for my necessities of comfort…<figure id="f2a4"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*[email protected]"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure id="7050"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*[email protected]"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure id="3f7a"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*[email protected]"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure id="207a"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*[email protected]"><figcaption>These 4 images were taken by, and contributed by, the Author of this article. Take note, in THIS case, of the price difference of each capsule/caplet! Shocking!</figcaption></figure>Information SourceThe information in this article was obtained from the following source:<ul><li>Headache. 2019 Jan;69(1):1–10. doi: 10.1111/head.13494. Epub 2018 Nov 15. Comparative efficacy of immediate-release and rapid-release acetaminophen for the treatment of acute migraine headache: a randomized controlled trial.</li></ul>A final note to my fellow readers:My readers are the heartbeat of my writing ability. Improving people's lives just like you guys using my vast medical experience and researched knowledge is what gives me ultimate satisfaction. I desire to educate the masses, help them live longer and healthier lives, and if a single article like this one mattered, or was helpful to even one person, then I have surely succeeded as a writer!Have you joined Medium yet? If this is your first time reading something on this platform, then I am totally honored! Thank You! You can also subscribe to get more of my neat stories that I promise will be both entertaining and educational for you on all things medicine by clicking <a href="https://medium.com/@wheeldeal3092/subscribe">here</a>.As Spock from Star Trek would have said, “Live long, and prosper”…</article></body>

Regular Extra Strength Acetaminophen Caplets -Photo by James Yarema on Unsplash

Is Tylenol or Acetaminophen Rapid Release Really Worth the Extra Cost?

If You Are Budget Conscious, The Answer May Surprise You!

Today, I found myself in Costco, combing over what I could possibly need from the medication isle. So many brands and choices, it’s no wonder that many people can find themselves with a headache from information overload!

Speaking of headaches, one of the things that I did pick up was Tylenol. Now, being the extremely frugal variety of person that I am, I decided to pass on the name brand, and go for the generic Costco brand, Kirkland.

So there I am, staring in disbelief when I see the difference in quantity and price of the rapid-release Acetaminophen (generic for Tylenol), and the extra-strength version that wasn’t rapid-release. It was actually quite a shock to me!

So, here we had Kirkland Rapid-Release Acetaminophen in a 400 count bottle for a cost of $13.99. Next to it, we had TWO bottles of 500 count each in a twin pack of the Extra Strength Acetaminophen plain white caplets. A package of two bottles of the regular was just $9.99. Do the math on that!

In one hand, you have rapid-release at $13.99 for 400 capsules. In the other hand, you have $9.99 for 1000 caplets of the regular. One may be faster, but:

NEWS FLASH! BOTH are 500mg each. BOTH effectively ease pain. Now, after some quick research from Google, which do you think I walked out of the store with? If you guessed the twin pack of 1000 total, BINGO!

So, for the benefit of my readers, I found myself delving into a bit more research. What I found may actually shock you! BTW, did you know that hospitals will generally charge patients $2 to as much as $5 for one? YA!

Now, let’s dive into the facts:

Tylenol is a popular over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer. It is available in a variety of formulations, including regular extra strength and rapid release. Regular extra strength Tylenol contains 500 milligrams of acetaminophen per tablet, while rapid-release Tylenol contains the same amount of acetaminophen, but is formulated to dissolve more quickly and be absorbed into the bloodstream faster. Each capsule has these tiny little holes in it, which allows it to flow into your system at a quicker rate.

As a result, rapid-release Tylenol begins to work faster than regular extra strength Tylenol. According to a study published in the journal Headache, rapid-release Tylenol began to provide pain relief within 15 minutes of administration, while regular extra strength Tylenol took 30 minutes to start working. We are talking a mere 15-minute time difference, folks!

However, this difference in speed of action comes at a price. Rapid-release Tylenol is typically more expensive than regular extra strength Tylenol. A rapid release version winds up being an average of 15–25 cents per capsule, while regular strength is around 10 cents. So, is it worth the extra cost?

Whether rapid-release Tylenol is worth the extra cost depends on your individual needs. If you need pain relief quickly, such as if you are experiencing a severe migraine, then the faster onset of action of rapid-release Tylenol may be worth the extra cost. Your level of body pain on a scale of 1–10, with 10 being the worst ever, will also give you an idea of which may better serve you. However, if you are able to wait 15–30 minutes for pain relief, then regular extra strength Tylenol may be a more cost-effective option. And that was the option that I chose at Costco today.

The truth of the matter is that rapid-release Tylenol can be 50% more expensive than regular extra strength Tylenol.

Please Note: You will see that I use both Tylenol and Acetaminophen almost interchangeably in this article. That is because, from my experience, I have no shadow of a doubt in my mind from what I’ve read, heard, and experienced myself that both are exactly the same, likely made in the same factory!

Why Someone May Not Wish to Pay More for Rapid-Release Tylenol

There are a few reasons why someone may not wish to pay more for rapid-release Tylenol. First, the difference in speed of action is only 15 minutes difference from one vs. the other. This may not be a significant difference for everyone! Second, regular extra strength Tylenol is still a very effective pain reliever and fever reducer. Third, rapid-release Tylenol may be more likely to cause side effects, such as stomach upset and heartburn.

PS…this is also why taking meds like Aleve, ibuprofen, aspirin, etc. which are considered NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) can wreak havoc over time on your gastrointestinal tract, causing heartburn and upset stomach, and our kidneys don’t particularly do well with them either! In fact, my Nephrologist (kidney specialist) told me to discard NSAIDS altogether. I used to eat them like little M&M’s! Not anymore!

An additional note of concern for my readers who take NSAIDS:

NSAIDs are not inherently bad for your joints. In fact, they can be very helpful for relieving pain and inflammation caused by arthritis and other joint conditions. However, long-term use of NSAIDs can increase the risk of joint damage, especially in people who are already at risk, such as those with osteoarthritis. I have had a Rheumatologist doctor friend confirm this.

Conclusion

So today, I left my local Costco having been the overly frugal, but very knowledgeable guy that I am, with the regular strength stuff. Equipped with two nice big bottles of 500 caplets each, and I suddenly felt like being the “Tylenol Fairy”, asking random people in the parking lot if they were in pain! I could have been the very blessing someone needed, who found themselves inflicted with a stubborn body aches or headache!

I am including my hilarious comparison photos for your viewing pleasure below. You will see that I came out of Costco having paid only $1.78 for both the twin pack of 1000 Acetaminophen PLUS this massive soft plush chinchilla pillow to go on my Henredon $8000 sectional sofa which I got for $300, but that’s another story altogether. I was able to do this, because when I signed up for my Costco membership, I went and typed into Google, “Costco Discounts Coupon Codes”, and viola! Found that if I purchased a $60 business membership online, I’d get a free $30 Costco gift card, which I decided to use for my necessities of comfort…

These 4 images were taken by, and contributed by, the Author of this article. Take note, in THIS case, of the price difference of each capsule/caplet! Shocking!

Information Source

The information in this article was obtained from the following source:

Headache. 2019 Jan;69(1):1–10. doi: 10.1111/head.13494. Epub 2018 Nov 15. Comparative efficacy of immediate-release and rapid-release acetaminophen for the treatment of acute migraine headache: a randomized controlled trial.

A final note to my fellow readers:

My readers are the heartbeat of my writing ability. Improving people's lives just like you guys using my vast medical experience and researched knowledge is what gives me ultimate satisfaction. I desire to educate the masses, help them live longer and healthier lives, and if a single article like this one mattered, or was helpful to even one person, then I have surely succeeded as a writer!

Have you joined Medium yet? If this is your first time reading something on this platform, then I am totally honored! Thank You! You can also subscribe to get more of my neat stories that I promise will be both entertaining and educational for you on all things medicine by clicking here.

As Spock from Star Trek would have said, “Live long, and prosper”…