Can You Freeze Tylenol?

Last updated on September 4th, 2022 at 03:55 pm

Every type of medication has recommended ways to store them. If you aren’t sure how to store a medication, you should check with your pharmacist so you can know the proper way to store it.  

Most pills and liquid medicines are stored at room temperature. But, can you freeze Tylenol?

You cannot freeze Tylenol. It should be stored at room temperature away from light and away from heat. No medications, pill or liquid form, should be stored in the refrigerator or the freezer unless directed to do so by your doctor/pharmacist. 

Tylenol should be stored correctly at room temperature and in a cabinet or closet out of reach from children. It doesn’t ever expire, but for one reason or another you may wonder if it can be stored in the freezer. Even though freezing food helps it to last longer, freezing Tylenol or other medications does not prolong its life span. It changes it. 

Freezing changes the molecular structure of the medicine making it less effective and possibly damaging. This is why it is important to store medicine correctly. 

Some medications are meant to be stored in the fridge. You shouldn’t freeze any medicine that isn’t meant to be stored in cold temperatures. Medicine is never stored in the freezer unless it is supposed to be. 

Freezing medicines are usually only available to doctors. Freezing your bottle of Tylenol could make it unusable and needing to be thawed before you use it. It could also have changed in such a way where it will no longer work or can become deadly. 

Pay attention to how the package says the medicine should be stored and store it correctly. Do not freeze Tylenol.

How Long Does It Take For Medication To Freeze?

If put into the freezer or left in a cold car, medicine can freeze quickly. But, If you remember it is there, can it still be used if it is removed from the frigid temperatures in time? 

How long does it take for it to actually freeze?

Both liquid and solid medications can freeze very fast taking only about a half hour to 6 or 7 hours before freezing depending on what medication it is. Medication of any kind should not be frozen and if in the cold for longer than a half hour, can be unsafe to use.

Medicine that is not meant to be stored in freezing temperatures, like insulin, can turn deadly. When you leave medicine such as liquid Tylenol in a cold car or store it in the freezer, it can freeze causing tiny crystals to form inside the liquid. These crystals are so small that they can’t be visibly seen but they can be injected into your bloodstream. 

They can then travel to your major organs such as your liver or heart and potentially cut off your blood flow. Medication whether in solid or liquid form can freeze very quickly in a matter of a half hour to several hours.

What Should I Do If My Medication Has Been Frozen?

If you have accidentally frozen medication, there are some things you need to do. Frozen medication isn’t safe to use and you may need a replacement. So, what should you do if your medication has been frozen?

It isn’t safe to freeze your medication. If your medication has been accidentally frozen, do not use it and instead contact your doctor or pharmacist. Frozen medication could become ineffective as well as dangerous so before doing anything contact a professional. 

If your medicine has accidentally frozen, you should first inspect it to see if you can notice any crystal formilization. This formation can mean that the medicine won’t work the way it is supposed to or even be deadly to use. Sometimes though this isn’t visible to the naked eye. 

Try rubbing it between your hands and also check for any deposits in the bottom of the bottle. If you have seen the bottle of liquid motion and it starts to dissipate then it is most likely unsafe to use. This can be sure of crystals forming in the liquid from freezing or the dosage could be incorrect. 

Sometimes medicine can also freeze while it is in transit. This is a case for your insurance company and you should contact them. They will investigate it and possibly refund you if they cover that particular situation. If you realize that your solid or liquid medicine has frozen, then do not use it, contact your doctor or pharmacist as soon as you can so you can replace it.

Can You Put Tylenol In Popsicles?

Children’s Tylenol is available in many kid-friendly flavors. Some kids don’t like liquid medicine. In this case, there are always chewable options of Tylenol for your child to take if you can’t get them to take the liquid. 

But, can you put the Tylenol in popsicles to help kids take it easier?

Although it may seem like a clever plan, you shouldn’t freeze medicine into popsicles for young children to eat. If they have trouble taking the medicine, then you can always give them a  popsicle to numb their tongue beforehand or follow it up with a yummy popsicle.

If you can’t get your child to take their liquid Tylenol, don’t freeze it in popsicles. You should avoid freezing liquid medicine into popsicles so that your child will take it. As we have been discussing, you cannot freeze Tylenol. 

However, you can give your child a popsicle before you give them their medicine. Just like Mary Poppins said, “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down!” This will numb their tongue so they don’t taste as much of it. 

You can also give them a popsicle or a flavorful drink after taking the medicine both as a way to get the taste out of their mouth and as a reward for taking it so well.

Where Should I Store My Tylenol?

Most households have a bottle of Tylenol on hand for whenever they are having pain. It comes in both pill form for adults and chewable or liquid form for children. You can’t store your Tylenol in the fridge or the freezer, so, where should you store it?

Tylenol should be stored in its container in a closet or medicine cabinet at room temperature. It should be in a moisture free environment and away from where it can be reached by children.

Tylenol is a pain relieving medicine used to treat mild to moderate pain and reduce fevers. You can take Tylenol for headaches, menstrual pain, toothaches, backaches, osteoarthritis, or cold and flu aches and pains. 

The safest place to store your medicine is in a cool, dry place away from moisture. Tylenol should be stored away from any hot appliances and never in the fridge or freezer. Tylenol should be stored at room temperature. 

Medicine cabinets or closets can hold your medicine. Just make sure they are out of reach of children.

Final Thoughts

You cannot freeze Tylenol. Freezing it won’t keep it good for longer and in fact it can change its molecular structure causing it to become ineffective or even dangerous. Tylenol should be stored in a cool, dry place at room temperature in a cabinet or closet away from heat, light, and moisture. 

Tylenol should also be stored out of reach from children. Unless the medicine says that it should be stored in the refrigerator or freezer, you should never store it in these places.