It is generally safe to take oxycodone and Tylenol (acetaminophen) together if oxycodone is prescribed alone without acetaminophen. However, if the oxycodone medication already contains acetaminophen (such as in Percocet), then taking additional Tylenol separately is not recommended due to the risk of exceeding the maximum daily acetaminophen dose, which can cause severe liver damage. Key points:
- Oxycodone alone does not contain acetaminophen, so taking it with Tylenol (acetaminophen) is usually safe within recommended doses.
- Many common oxycodone prescriptions combine it with acetaminophen (e.g., Percocet). In these cases, do not take additional Tylenol separately to avoid acetaminophen overdose.
- The maximum daily acetaminophen dose is generally 4000 mg.
- Acetaminophen overdose can lead to acute liver failure.
- Always follow your doctor's instructions and check medication labels carefully to avoid unintentional overdose.
In summary, one can take oxycodone and Tylenol together only if the oxycodone medication does not already contain acetaminophen. Otherwise, additional Tylenol should be avoided to prevent liver damage.