Is Tylenol 3 a Prescribed Drug?

Tylenol 3 is a version of the popular drug that contains codeine and acetaminophen.  It is one of the prescribed drugs in the Tylenol family and is classified as a Schedule III controlled substance, which means it is illegal to possess without a prescription.  Physicians and medical professionals typically prescribe Tylenol 3 to patients that have long term illnesses like HIV/AIDs or cancer and who experience chronic pain.  It is an effective pain reliever and when supervised by a doctor and it can help patients manage their pain without negative effects.  Using Tylenol 3 as a prescribed drug means that you will mostly receive it in a pill form for outpatients and either pill or liquid form for patients in a treatment facility or hospital.  The key to getting the most out of Tylenol 3 without subjecting the patient to possible addiction is moderate use.  The narcotic compounds in Tylenol 3 can make that a difficult task if the drug is needed for prolonged use, but fortunately there is help in the form of clinics and wellness facilities like the Horizons Clinic that can guide a patient through the process of recovering from Tylenol 3 dependency.  They utilize drugs like Methadone and Suboxone to wean addicts off of the drug by blocking many of the narcotic effects.

Candidates for Tylenol 3 pain relievers might include:

• Heart attack survivors
• Spinal injuries
• Fibromyalgia
• Cancer patients
• Hospice patients
• Burn victims
• HIV/AIDS patients

Tylenol 3 can be prescribed for long term illnesses with success because of the combination of codeine and acetaminophen.  Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer that works to increase the effectiveness of the opioid codeine that binds to receptors in the brain, spine and central nervous system (CNS) to block pain and force the brain to release dopamine, which is a pleasure emitting chemical.  Together the two form a powerful analgesic.  Analgesics are excellent pain relievers, but can prove to be highly addictive because the patient does not plateau as the size and frequency of dosage increases.  For this reason there is a tendency to overindulge and eventually a tolerance and full-blown dependency can occur.  That is why strict medical supervision should be used when taking Tylenol 3 as a prescribed drug.

Fortunately there are resources that patients can turn to when (and if) they feel that their Tylenol 3 usage is getting out of hand.  It is not uncommon to see hospitalized patients overcome their illness only to be moved into a detox facility or outpatient clinic for help abstaining from Tylenol 3.  The Horizons Clinic is one such facility that can tailor the patient’s treatments to the severity of their addiction for the smoothest possible transition back to their normal, healthy lives.  Tylenol 3 is a very effective and beneficial drug for millions of patients and because it is misused by some, it tends to get lumped-in with harder drugs that have negative reputations.  This should not be the case with Tylenol 3 as a prescribed drug.  As mentioned above, use with proper medical supervision and a strong support group can help the patient see positive results from Tylenol 3 toward reducing their pain.