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Tylenol has a different mechanism than most other over-the-counter pain relievers. Most other OTC pain relievers are "non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs" (NS
by rcthompson 14y ago
Tylenol has a different mechanism than most other over-the-counter pain relievers. Most other OTC pain relievers are "non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs" (NSAIDs), which means that they actually reduce inflammation at the site of injury instead of just reducing the amount of pain that your brain feels (though they do that too). But I still wouldn't be surprised if they had similar emotional effects.
- redwood 14y agoGood point. It's hard to see the experience of specific pain as ever existing within a vacuum of human experience. It's interesting to compare ourselves: a population of pill poppers at the slightest twinge, to those in other parts of the world who simply don't. Perhaps it affords us some extra (or different) mental space in an intangible way.
- Alex3917 14y ago"But I still wouldn't be surprised if they had similar emotional effects." Reducing inflammation tends to reduce anxiety, so the effects would definitely be similar. That said, tylenol also binds to the cannabinoid receptors, albeit weakly, so that may have something to do with the effect there.