8 things you might not know about Tylenol®

You probably know that Tylenol®* is great for pain relief, but how much do you really know about the iconic brand that's been in medicine cabinets for decades? From how the brand began to how it broke cultural barriers, here's everything you need to know about the #1 doctor-recommended brand of pain reliever.

1. The family behind the pharmaceutical

While Tylenol® is one of the most iconic brands in the Kenvue family, it actually started with the McNeil family business in 1879. Robert McNeil, a 23-year-old recent college graduate, paid $167 to buy a retail drugstore in Philadelphia, complete with furnishings, an inventory of medicines and a soda fountain.

He soon built a citywide reputation as a provider of high-quality pharmaceuticals, eventually bringing his sons into the business. By the 1950s, McNeil Laboratories had developed the first commercially available aspirin-free pain reliever - Children's Tylenol® Elixir- only available by prescription.

2. How Tylenol® joined the Kenvue family**

In 1959, the company was acquired, along with the heart of its business - Tylenol® - which was approved for sale without a prescription. (It would become available over the counter the following year.)

3. Tylenol® ads broke through diversity barriers

In 2003, Tylenol® PM became the first non-prescription drug that featured ads marketed to the gay community, with a sponsorship of New York City's Pride parade and ads in OUT magazine and The Advocate. Two years later the brand publicly celebrated LOGO, a 24-hour cable channel aimed at LGBTQIA+ audiences, and years later, would eventually go on to roll out its #HowWeFamily campaignin 2015-16, which showcased the diversity of families and featured same-sex couplesin advertising and online content.

4. Tylenol® helps injured athletes on the road to recovery

Tylenol® is launching a much-needed recovery fund to support injured athletes: The Care Commitment by Tylenol®exists to help fund athletes facing painful setbacks as they recover and continue their pursuit of greatness. Tylenol is committing $1,000,000 in funding to help injured athletes recover and compete once again, starting this year with sponsorship of the Women's Sports Foundation.

5. A variety of Tylenol® products for a variety of needs

Acetaminophen is an active ingredientin Tylenol® products, and there are dozens of productsin the Tylenol® family. For example, the Tylenol® portfolio includes need-specific formulations like from Tylenol® 8 HR Arthritis Pain Relief Tablets(designed to provide fast-acting, temporary relief of minor arthritis pain) to Tylenol® PM Extra Strength(for temporary relief of pain with accompanying sleeplessness) to Children's Tylenol® Dissolve Powder Packs(a powder that works without water and dissolves on your kid's tongue within seconds) - and many, many more.

6. Tylenol® never stops innovating

At Kenvue, we pioneer innovative solutions that improve lives, and create products that create categories - then improve them again and again. But as consumers' needs change, Tylenol® remains the pain relief you can count on. Recent innovations, like Tylenol® Easy to Swallow Caplets, which features Gentleglide™ Coating Technology, a specialized technology that allows for easy swallowing of pills, creating a pleasant experience for those who dislike taking pills, caplets or tablets. Additional innovations from the iconic brand include Motrin® Dual Action with Tylenol®, a 2-in-1 pain reliever that joins the forces of medicines ibuprofen and acetaminophen, and a new Tylenol® Precise®productline, a family of topical options (including cooling and warming versions) that provide relief from muscle aches and pains.

7. Tylenol® believes in investing in the future

For more than 30 years, Tylenol® has been awarding annual Tylenol® Future Care Scholarships to well-deserving students pursuing careers in healthcare, with 10 students receiving $10,000 scholarships and 25 students receiving $5,000 scholarships. Selection is basedon college GPA, academic records, community involvement/volunteer service and essay content, and the scholarship can be applied to tuition, fees and books, supplies and equipment.

8. Tylenol® is the pain relief brand recommended most by doctors

Tylenol® is the #1 doctor-recommended pain reliever brand. It temporarily reduces fever and relieves minor aches and pains associated with conditions like the common cold, headache, backache, arthritis, toothache, muscular aches and premenstrual and menstrual cramps. Safe when used as directed, Tylenol® is also an appropriate pain relief option to consider for people with stomach, heart or kidney issues.

Tylenol® continues to expand its offerings to ensure that everyone can take care of their pain and comfort in the way that best suits their needs, now and in the years to come.

*Use Tylenol® products as directed.
**Formerly Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health. Kenvue became a separate company in 2023.

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