Key takeaways:
Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is a prescription antiviral medication that treats and prevents the flu. Tylenol (acetaminophen) is an over-the-counter (OTC) medication that helps manage pain and fever.
In most cases, you can take Tylenol and Tamiflu together. There isn’t an interaction between the two. But Tylenol may not be the best choice if you’re living with liver problems or consume large amounts of alcohol.
Most combination OTC cold and flu products are also fine to take with Tamiflu. But many contain acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol). So be sure to read product labels carefully to avoid taking more Tylenol than recommended.
Save on related medications
Several medications can help you feel better when you have influenza (the flu). Tamiflu (oseltamivir) can help fight the influenza virus, while Tylenol (acetaminophen) can help relieve symptoms such as fever, headaches, and body aches.
But can you take Tylenol and Tamiflu together? The short answer is yes. There are no known interactions between the two medications. Still, there are a few precautions to keep in mind, especially when taking Tylenol with other over-the-counter (OTC) flu medications. Here’s what you should know about taking Tylenol with Tamiflu.
Can you take Tylenol with Tamiflu?
Yes, most people can take Tylenol and Tamiflu together. There are no known drug interactions between these two medications. That’s because they work differently for flu symptoms. Tamiflu fights the flu virus to help you feel better sooner. Tylenol reduces flu symptoms such as fever or body aches and pains.
That being said, Tylenol isn’t a safe option for everyone. If you’re living with liver problems or frequently drink large amounts of alcohol, it’s best to speak with a healthcare professional before taking Tylenol. That’s because there’s an increased risk of liver damage if you take Tylenol in these situations.
Keep in mind: Tylenol’s active ingredient, acetaminophen, is found in many OTC combination cold and flu medications. Avoid accidentally doubling up on Tylenol by carefully reviewing the ingredients of all OTC and prescription medications you take.
How quickly will Tylenol and Tamiflu relieve my symptoms?
Tylenol kicks in soon after you take a dose. It generally takes 60 minutes or less for the medication to start reducing pain and fever.
Tamiflu starts fighting the flu virus soon after your first dose. But it can take a few days for you to start feeling better. Without treatment, flu symptoms typically last for 3 to 7 days. Tamiflu can help you feel better 1 to 2 days faster (or 2 to 3 days faster in adults over age 65 with chronic health conditions) on average.
Keep in mind that you need to start taking Tamiflu within 48 hours (2 days) of your first symptoms in order for it to work its best.
How often can you take Tylenol and Tamiflu?
Tylenol and Tamiflu have different dosages. You should take Tamiflu every day as directed. But you can take Tylenol as needed for pain or fever. Here are the recommended dosages for both medications.
Tylenol dosages
How often you can take Tylenol depends on which product you’re taking. Tylenol comes in 325 mg, 500 mg, and 650 mg tablets. It also comes as 160 mg chewable tablets and a 160 mg per 5 mL liquid for kids.
For adults and children ages 12 and over the recommended Tylenol dosages are:
325 mg tablets: 2 pills (650 mg) every 4 hours as needed.
500 mg tablets: 2 pills (1,000 mg) every 6 hours as needed.
650 mg tablets: 2 pills (1,300 mg) every 8 hours as needed.
160 mg/5 mL liquid: 20 mL (640 mg) every 4 hours as needed.
Tylenol dosages for children ages 2 to 11 are based on their body weight. Follow the package directions or talk to your pediatrician or pharmacist for guidance. In general, children can take Tylenol once every 4 to 6 hours as needed.
You can take Tylenol as needed for your symptoms. But don’t take more than 4,000 mg per day. If your fever or pain returns between doses, talk to a healthcare professional about your options. They may recommend alternating Tylenol with another fever reducer such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).
Tamiflu dosages
Tamiflu comes in 30 mg, 45 mg, and 75 mg capsules. It also comes as a liquid for people who have trouble swallowing pills.
To treat the flu, the recommended Tamiflu dosage for adults and children ages 13 and older is 75 mg twice daily for 5 days. To prevent the flu, the recommended dosage is 75 mg once daily for at least 10 days.
For children, Tamiflu dosages are based on age and body weight. But in most cases, they’ll take Tamiflu twice daily for 5 days to treat the flu or once daily for at least 10 days to prevent catching it.
You should take Tamiflu for the entire course of treatment recommended by your prescriber. Stopping treatment early will make the medication less effective against the flu.
Do any OTC cold and flu medications interact with Tamiflu?
There are no known drug interactions between Tamiflu and OTC cold and flu medications. But it’s important to remember that many combination cold and flu medications contain acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol). Examples include:
NyQuil Cold and Flu (acetaminophen / dextromethorphan / doxylamine)
Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Flu (acetaminophen / chlorpheniramine / dextromethorphan)
Advil Dual Action (ibuprofen / acetaminophen)
If you take Tylenol on top of an OTC product that contains acetaminophen, you may end up taking too much. Read product labels carefully or talk to your pharmacist for guidance to avoid this issue.
Can you take Tamiflu with Advil?
Yes, most people can take Tamiflu and Advil (ibuprofen) together. There are no known drug interactions between the two.
However, keep in mind that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Advil aren’t recommended if you:
Have a history of kidney problems
Have a history of heart problems
Are pregnant
Have a history of stomach ulcers
Are age 65 or older
Are living with Type 2 diabetes
Are living with inflammatory bowel disease
Take blood thinners or other medications that interact with NSAIDs
Talk to your healthcare team before taking Advil if any of the above apply to you.
Frequently asked questions
Alcohol can worsen flu symptoms and make it harder for Tamiflu to work. Alcohol can also interact with Tylenol (acetaminophen) and other over-the-counter cold and flu medications. So it’s best to avoid alcohol if you have the flu or you’re taking Tamiflu.
Tamiflu isn’t recommended if you’re allergic to any of its active or inactive ingredients. It isn’t approved to treat the flu in infants under the age of 2 weeks or to prevent the flu in children under age 1. Tamiflu also isn’t recommended for those living with end-stage kidney disease who aren’t receiving dialysis treatment.
No. Tamiflu doesn’t work for COVID-19. Tamiflu targets the influenza virus, so it doesn’t work for any other type of viral infection. But there are other antiviral medications that treat COVID. These include Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir / ritonavir) and Lagevrio (molnupiravir), among others. Your healthcare team can determine if you’re eligible for a COVID treatment and which option is best for you.
Alcohol can worsen flu symptoms and make it harder for Tamiflu to work. Alcohol can also interact with Tylenol (acetaminophen) and other over-the-counter cold and flu medications. So it’s best to avoid alcohol if you have the flu or you’re taking Tamiflu.
Tamiflu isn’t recommended if you’re allergic to any of its active or inactive ingredients. It isn’t approved to treat the flu in infants under the age of 2 weeks or to prevent the flu in children under age 1. Tamiflu also isn’t recommended for those living with end-stage kidney disease who aren’t receiving dialysis treatment.
No. Tamiflu doesn’t work for COVID-19. Tamiflu targets the influenza virus, so it doesn’t work for any other type of viral infection. But there are other antiviral medications that treat COVID. These include Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir / ritonavir) and Lagevrio (molnupiravir), among others. Your healthcare team can determine if you’re eligible for a COVID treatment and which option is best for you.
The bottom line
Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is a prescription antiviral medication that treats and prevents the flu. Tylenol (acetaminophen) is an over-the-counter (OTC) medication that helps manage pain and fever.
There isn’t an interaction between the two. So in most cases, you can take Tylenol and Tamiflu together. But if you’re living with liver problems or consume large amounts of alcohol, check with a healthcare professional before taking Tylenol.
Most combination OTC cold and flu products are also fine to take with Tamiflu. But many contain acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol). So be sure to read product labels carefully to avoid taking more Tylenol than recommended.
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References
Butler, C. C., et al. (2020). Oseltamivir plus usual care versus usual care for influenza-like illness in primary care: An open-label, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. The Lancet.
