Tylenol PM Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide
Key takeaways:
Tylenol PM (acetaminophen / diphenhydramine) is a combination over-the-counter medication used for short-term relief of minor aches or pains that cause trouble sleeping.
The typical Tylenol PM dosage is 2 caplets or 30 mL (2 tablespoonfuls) by mouth about 30 minutes before bedtime. You shouldn’t take Tylenol PM for more than 14 days in a row without talking to a healthcare professional.
Children under 12 years old shouldn’t take Tylenol PM without a pediatrician’s OK. Diphenhydramine can sometimes cause hyperactivity or irritability in children.
Tylenol PM is available as both a brand-name medication and lower-cost generic. If your healthcare team writes you a prescription for Tylenol PM, GoodRx can help you save on the average retail price at certain pharmacies.
Access savings on related medications
Table of contents
Tylenol PM is an over-the-counter (OTC) medication that can help relieve minor aches or pains that make it hard to sleep. The most popular form of Tylenol PM is a combination medication. It contains two active ingredients: acetaminophen (a pain reliever) and diphenhydramine (an antihistamine that promotes drowsiness).
While Tylenol PM is considered safe for most people to take occasionally, it’s important to know how much you should take. Here, we’ll discuss the typical Tylenol PM dosages for adults and adolescents, as well as how long it’s recommended to continue taking it.
What’s the typical Tylenol PM dosage for adults?
The Tylenol PM line of products offers three different dosage forms:
Tylenol PM Extra Strength caplets
Tylenol PM Extra Strength oral liquid
Simply Sleep caplets
Each product has its own characteristics, including the dosage form and active ingredients. But the instructions for taking them are similar. It takes Tylenol PM products about 30 minutes to start working for sleep. So aim to take your dose about a half hour before bed for the best effects.
Pharmacist tip: It’s a good idea to read the OTC label of your product carefully before purchasing or taking it. Check the list of active ingredients to see which medications the product contains. This can help you be more aware of what you’re taking and keep you safe.
Tylenol PM Extra Strength caplets dosage
Each Tylenol PM Extra Strength caplet contains 500 mg of acetaminophen and 25 mg of diphenhydramine. The recommended Tylenol PM caplet dosage for adults is 2 caplets by mouth about 30 minutes before bedtime. The maximum dosage is 2 caplets in 24 hours.
Tylenol PM Extra Strength liquid dosage
Tylenol PM Extra Strength liquid contains 1,000 mg of acetaminophen and 50 mg of diphenhydramine in every 30 mL (2 tablespoonfuls) of liquid. The typical Tylenol PM liquid dosage for adults is 30 mL by mouth about 30 minutes before bedtime. The maximum dosage is 30 mL in 24 hours.
You should use a medication dose cup or an oral syringe to measure your Tylenol PM liquid doses. Kitchen or household spoons aren’t accurate. Using them could cause you to take too much or too little Tylenol PM.
Tylenol PM’s Simply Sleep dosage
Tylenol PM’s Simply Sleep caplets contain 25 mg of diphenhydramine per caplet. They don’t contain any acetaminophen. The typical Tylenol PM Simply Sleep dosage is 2 caplets by mouth about 30 minutes before bedtime. The maximum dosage is 2 caplets in 24 hours.
Beating insomnia: Three people share their experiences with insomnia and how they were able to get the sleep they needed.
Comparing options: Tylenol PM contains diphenhydramine, a popular over-the-counter (OTC) sleep medication. Read about OTC sleep aids and their safety and effectiveness.
Staying safe: The acetaminophen in Tylenol PM is also found in many other OTC and prescription medications. Here’s how to avoid accidentally taking too much acetaminophen.
What’s the typical Tylenol PM dosage for children?
Adolescents ages 12 and older can follow the adult Tylenol PM dosage instructions listed above. But you shouldn’t give Tylenol PM to children younger than 12 years old without their pediatrician's OK.
Why shouldn’t children under 12 take Tylenol PM?
There are two main reasons why Tylenol PM isn’t considered safe for children under 12.
Most adolescents and adults feel sleepy after taking diphenhydramine. But younger children may have an opposite reaction. It’s possible for kids under 12 to become hyperactive or feel irritable after taking diphenhydramine. Because of this, experts don’t recommend giving children under 12 products that contain diphenhydramine, such as Tylenol PM, for sleep.
Another reason Tylenol PM isn’t safe for kids under 12 is because children’s acetaminophen dosages are based on their body weight. It would be difficult to obtain the correct dose for a child using liquid Tylenol PM. You could easily give your child too much acetaminophen by mistake using adult products. It’s best to stick with acetaminophen products that are labeled for children. These have proper dosage instructions to follow.
Are there any dosage adjustments for health conditions?
There aren’t any recommended dosage adjustments for Tylenol PM. But you should talk to a healthcare professional before taking it if you have liver problems or drink alcohol regularly.
The acetaminophen in Tylenol PM is mainly broken down by the liver. If your liver isn’t working as expected or if you regularly drink alcohol, the medication can build up and cause liver damage. A healthcare professional can help you determine if you can safely take a lower Tylenol PM dosage or if you should avoid it altogether.
Tylenol PM also has a few additional warnings. Speak to a healthcare professional before taking it if you:
Have glaucoma
Have trouble peeing due to an enlarged prostate
Have a chronic lung condition, such as emphysema
Take other antihistamines, including antihistamine creams or gels
Take the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
Take other medications that cause drowsiness, such as opioids or muscle relaxers
Tylenol PM could be harmful or even dangerous for the groups of people listed above. So it’s a good idea to ask your prescriber before taking it if one of these situations applies to you.
How often can you take Tylenol PM?
Typically, Tylenol PM is taken once daily at bedtime only when you need it. It’s not intended for long-term or routine use. In fact, Tylenol PM’s label recommends only taking it for sleep for up to 14 days in a row. After that, you should speak with a healthcare professional about whether you should continue it.
In addition, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine doesn’t recommend using antihistamines such as diphenhydramine for long-term sleep problems. This is because multiple studies have found it doesn’t work well for chronic sleep issues (insomnia).
The diphenhydramine in Tylenol PM can also cause bothersome side effects, such as next-day grogginess and constipation. And it’s possible to build up a tolerance to diphenhydramine’s drowsiness side effect over time. This means it may be less effective for sleep the longer you take it.
What should you do if you take too much Tylenol PM?
Taking too much Tylenol PM could lead to severe side effects. It’s possible to experience an overdose from acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, or both. And because both active ingredients are found in many OTC and prescription medications, it’s easy to take too much by accident.
Too much acetaminophen can lead to serious or life-threatening liver damage. This damage can be permanent if not treated soon enough. In the most severe cases, a liver transplant is necessary to treat an overdose.
Too much diphenhydramine can cause excessive drowsiness or slowed breathing. In severe cases, it can cause abnormal heart rhythms, seizures, or a coma.
If you’re unsure whether someone has taken too much Tylenol PM, contact a healthcare professional or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. They can let you know if you should seek further care.
If you know you or someone else has taken too much Tylenol PM, get medical help right away even if there are no symptoms. Acetaminophen overdoses must be treated quickly to prevent serious complications.
How to save on Tylenol PM
There are ways to save on Tylenol PM, which is available OTC as both a brand-name and generic medication. If your medical care team writes you a prescription for Tylenol PM, GoodRx can help you save on the average retail price of the generic version. Generic Tylenol PM’s price at certain pharmacies is as low as $6.44 with a free GoodRx discount.
The bottom line
The typical Tylenol PM (acetaminophen / diphenhydramine) dosage is 2 caplets or 30 mL (2 tablespoonfuls) by mouth about 30 minutes before bedtime. You shouldn’t take this medication for sleep more than once a day or for more than 14 days in a row.
Adolescents ages 12 and older can take the standard adult Tylenol PM dosage. But children under 12 shouldn’t take Tylenol PM. The medication tends to cause hyperactivity or irritability in younger kids. Discuss the best Tylenol PM dosage for you with a healthcare professional.
Why trust our experts?
References
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (2024). Simply Sleep- diphenhydramine hydrochloride tablet, film coated [package insert].
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (2024). Tylenol PM extra strength- acetaminophen and diphenhydramine hydrochloride tablet, film coated [package insert].
Richardson, G. S., et al. (2002). Tolerance to daytime sedative effects of H1 antihistamines. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology.
SafeMedication. (n.d.). Liquid medications.
Sateia, M. J., et al. (2017). Clinical practice guideline for the pharmacologic treatment of chronic insomnia in adults: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
Sicari, V., et al. (2023). Diphenhydramine [package insert]. StatPearls.
Was this page helpful?
Browse medications
View AllResearch prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.