What Are The Short Term Effects of Using Tylenol 3?

Tylenol 3 is a mixture of the codeine and acetaminophen that has several short term effects on the patient.  The two ingredients work together to form a powerful analgesic that works effectively to mitigate moderate to severe pain in patients with chronic illnesses.  The medication helps many sufferers to lead happy and relatively pain-free lives when used with proper medical guidance.  Tylenol 3 is a Schedule III controlled substance which means it can be sold to patients with a prescription, but is classified as a narcotic and is illegal to possess without one.  Even though these checks are in place, Tylenol 3 is still prevalent on the streets and misuse of the drug is widespread.

There is a high rate of addiction to Tylenol 3, which is mainly due to the codeine portion of its chemical make-up and also the analgesic qualities of the drug.  The codeine and acetaminophen work together to provide long lasting pain relief and the effect can be increased by additional doses, which is how patients become addicted.  They develop a tolerance over time and form a physical and psychological addiction to Tylenol 3 as they reach further and further to achieve a similar high each time they take the drug.  The major problem is that the acetaminophen can do serious damage to the liver over extended periods of time as the body works to flush these chemicals.

There are several short term effects of Tylenol 3 abuse which can serve as red flags for friends, family and medical professionals if they are concerned someone is abusing Tylenol 3.  They would include:

• Dizziness
• Euphoria
• Shortness of breath
• Dry mouth
• Urinary issues
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Blurred vision

None of these symptoms are automatic indicators that the afflicted is suffering from Tylenol 3 addiction, but when coupled together, it should not be a difficult to spot.  Another series of warning signs are behavioral changes that signify the individual may be hiding something or secretly using the drug.  Those types of signals would be:

You could make a case that many of these symptoms are found in teenagers anyway, but what parents or guardians really need to look for are changes.  A once promising student that was outgoing and now appears closed off with frequent body aches and pains might be potentially abusing Tylenol 3 or a similar narcotic.  The same might go for an athlete who quickly drops his/her favorite sport and now appears unable to perform those activities.  Short term effects of Tylenol can be subtle, but if you look closely enough, you will see them.

When you see a series of the short term effects of Tylenol 3 abuse, it is important to seek professional help before the user becomes a full-blown addict.  There are many facilities that can help correct abuse problems before they go too far like the Horizons Clinic, where the treatment is tailored to each patient’s needs.  The further an addict dives into their addiction, the more difficult and long the road becomes to climb out of that hole and spotting short term effects of abuse play an integral role in helping the overcome the addiction.