Difference between tylenol & paracetamol???

Hi,
I am 28 weeks pregnant, and have been told by my mid-wife that the only thing I can take for such things as bad headaches, etc, is paracetamol....so I am wondering what is the difference between the UK's paracetamol and the USA's tylenol (acetaminophen).

Thanks for any help.

Janna

Tylenol is a brand, acetaminophen the ingredient which according to PharmWeb is the same as paracetamol:

"Paracetamol has been in use as an analgesic for home medication for over 30 years and is accepted as a very effective treatment for the relief of pain and fever in adults and children. The following information on paracetamol is provided by the Paracetamol Information Centre. Paracetamol is also known as acetaminophen."

Hi,
Thanks for the info! 
I knew that tylenol was the brand & acetaminophen the ingredient, just did not know that paracetamol is also known as acetaminophen....all the different names they have for drugs over here can be so confusing sometimes for me!
Thanks again....very much appreciated!

Janna

I just want to add, congrats on the pregnancy hon!  good luck!

How does ibuprofen fit into the picture?

(congrats on the bump, janna!)

Ibuprofen is a completely different type of pain killer and should not be taken if you are pregnant.

I know it's different and I'm not pregnant (I hope!). But, if given the choice, I always take ibuprofen instead of paracetamol. It seems to work better for my headaches or period cramps. I just wondered what it was about the two that was different, and why pregnant women can't take ibuprofen.

Ibuprofen thins the blood so is good for pain that is caused by inflammation (cramps, some headaches). Not sure how typlenol works.

I dread being pregnant because tylenol doesn't do a thing for me!