Every time I crack my knuckles, my mother and grandmother give me a look. They are constantly reminding me of what my future will hold if I continue with this habit everyday, a future of arthritis. Arthritis means joint disease and can be broken down into 100 different categories, all of which causes that patient to have pain, swelling and stiffness in their joints. There is a direct relationship between a person's age and the probability that they will develop arthritis, it is however, a little known fact that the majority of arthritis sufferers are over that age of 65. The pain you can endure from arthritis is unimaginable, but if you are as stubborn as my grandmother and refuse to visit a doctor, there is something you can take over-the-counter to relieve the pain. Please do not misunderstand me, this is not an advertisement, but most people find Tylenol Arthritis pain reliever to be very effective for their symptoms, however, there are several things you should keep in mind before taking this medication.

Tylenol Arthritis is basically plain acetaminophen which is used to relieve pain. This over-the-counter medication does not relieve redness or swelling that is caused by arthritis. A prescription is not necessary if you wish to use this product but like anything, you may want to consult your doctor before beginning a regime of acetaminophen. Also, inform you doctor you are taking this medication to make sure there is not an interaction with any of your prescription drugs. Do not take this medication if you are allergic to aspirin or acetaminophen. If you are breast-feeding small amounts of acetaminophen will pass through into the breast milk. If you have medical problems such as alcohol abuse, hepatitis, kidney disease, or phenylketonuria using acetaminophen may negatively affect your condition.

Unless you are given specific directions from your doctor, you should follow the directions on the packaging because misuse of this medication can lead to kidney and liver damage. The directions on the package are averages for specific age groups. For adults and teenagers you can use 325 to 500 milligrams every three to four hours, 650 milligrams every four to six hours, or 1,000 milligrams every six hours. You should never exceed 4,000 milligrams a day. This medication is designed to provide temporary relief and should not be used regularly for an extended period of time.

The following prescription drugs should never be taken together with acetaminophen: diclofenac, diflunisal, etodolac, fenoprofen, floctafenine, flubiprofen, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketorolac, ketoprofen, meclofenamate, mefenamic acid, nabumetone, naproxen, oxaprozin, phenylbutazone, piroxicam, sulindac, tenoxicam, tiaprofenic acid, and tolmetin. In addition, if you are going in for a medical examination you should inform someone that you have taken acetaminophen within the past couple of days. If you have any questions regarding your medical examination you could always call the place where you are having the test done a week before hand and ask whether any medications will interact with your test results.

You should consult your doctor immediately if you experience side effects such as yellow skin, yellow eyes, diarrhea, increased sweating, loss of appetite, vomiting, stomach cramps, or swelling in the stomach. You should be cautious if you experience side effects such as bloody stools, cloudy urine, fever, pain in your back, red spots on your skin, hives, white spots in your mouth, or unusual weakness. Tylenol Arthritis is a useful tool in relieving arthritis pain, but like anything if you are unsure ask your doctor. Good luck and effective relief.

Sara Jones, of Auburn, is a pharmacy technician