Do Tylenol Rapid Release Gelcaps Really Work Faster Than Regular Tylenol?

I absolutely hate getting headaches. When I have a headache, I find that it is very difficult to concentrate, I become irritable, and my productivity is decreased substantially. That's why it is important to me to get rid of a headache as soon as possible after I notice one. Normally I just pop a few Tylenol or Advil and wait for the pain reliever to kick in. But depending on what I've eaten for the day and how quickly I pop the pills, it can take up to an hour (and sometimes even longer) for the Tylenol or Advil to kick in. If I get a headache during the work day, that can mean a significant amount of lost time for me.

Recently, I have been seeing advertisements on the television for Tylenol Rapid Release Gelcaps. These Gelcaps contain the same ingredient as regular Tylenol, but have a special feature that regular Tylenol does not. Instead of just being a regular tablet, the Tylenol Rapid Release Gelcaps have special "micro-holes" in the coating of the pill. These tiny holes in the Gelcap are supposed to allow the medicine to be released in your stomach faster to presumably offer quicker relief from minor aches and pains like a headache. Tylenol, of course, charges more for the "Rapid Release" version of the drug than they do for their regular pills, so I was a bit skeptical that the "Rapid Release" concept was nothing more than a clever marketing gimmick.

The next time I was at the store, however, I noticed that the Tylenol Rapid Release Gelcaps were part of a buy one get one free sale, so I decided to pick up a bottle and give them a try. The next time I found myself with a headache, I decided to take two of the Rapid Release Tylenol instead of regular acetaminophen like I normally would. Then I waited...and waited....and waited some more. It took about 70 minutes for my headache to begin to subside, which is what I was used to when I just took regular Tylenol. The next time I had a headache, I noticed the same thing. For me at least, the Rapid Release Tylenol didn't seem to offer any advantage over regular Tylenol.

When I think about it, it makes sense. Normal Tylenol is coated with gelatin, which pretty much instantly dissolves when it hits your stomach acid. Drilling a few small holes through that gelatin coating isn't going to make what is pretty much an instant process any faster. Tylenol knows that people want immediate headache relief which is what has allowed them to market this whole "Rapid Release" concept. In the end, though, the Rapid Release Gelcaps did not work any faster than regular Tylenol, and they normally cost more. Next time you have a headache, save yourself some money by sticking with regular Tylenol instead of the Rapid Release version.