Tylenol is safe for most mast cell patients.  Some are able to use aspirin or NSAIDs (ibuprofen, Aleve, etc...), but I would be very cautious about them.  Unless you know they're safe for you personally, don't take them when you're alone.

Good luck!
Heather

ps - If you need something stronger, the safest prescription pain reliever is Ultram (tramadol).

I just discovered last month that CVS Tension Headache is exactly like the Excedrin Tension Headache, which is the only thing that cures my headaches. It works great and contains no aspirin. It is basically like tylenol but has the caffeine in it that Heather mentioned. Works amazingly!

For a basic cold where I just can't stand all the dripping from my face, I take Walmart's Wat-act. It is similar to actephed, and dries up those sinuses, etc.

Lortab is an opiate... are you sure it's not making your mast cell symptoms (including pain) worse?  

Heather

Thanks for the warnings.

Actually I've been taking hydrocodone for a couple of years because it's the only med that works on my severe back pain.  Regular tylenol doesn't touch it.  Laying down flat on my back or squatting eliminates the pain but I can't grocery shop that way.  

I stopped taking nsaids in 2006 because of my celiac dx and I felt better on a healthier diet. I'm looking at taking nsaids again tho because of their effect on prostaglandins which cause pain and swelling.

For the last few years, I've had daily swelling and pain which is probably associated with mast cells. I know some foods, nuts, that trigger it but I'm down to so few foods that I don't want to give these up. I'm hypoglycemic so I use these for blood glucose control. And I'm still going to get swelling from contact allergens anyways.

Taking these with food and at a lower dose is supposed to help avoid gut damage.  I'm just trying to find which brand of the
ibuprofen / advil or naproxen / aleve adult dose is gf, dairy free and dye free. Taking the children's liquid dye free motrin isn't convenient.

Name brand adult Aleve appears to be the safest so far.

Tylenol does affect prostaglandins, just not as much and in a different way from aspirin and ibuprofen, etc.  Here's a link that explains how Tylenol works:  

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5398586_tylenol-works.html

I find it helps tremendously with certain types of pain and inflammation I get, even though it's not supposed to affect inflammation.  Don't know which mediator(s) it's addressing, but love the relief!  Since I can't take aspirin or ibuprofen, I'm glad it helps....

you are right Tylenol only helps the pain and not much...when I was completely down with my hip and could not function for many days..I realized that I would need something more..
now this was a problem for me as I had been in the hospital for a ...stomach bleed...and most over the counter meds will caution you if you have stomach problems on the label..but I finally decided that I had to take the risk...so I started slowly and was watching careful..but I started taking one pill mornings when needed of Aleve...so far no problems and I only take it as needed
redbird

I use "rapid release" (Target brand, actually), but if dyes are a problem for you I'd stick with the normal ones... they're white.  Personally, I don't have a problem with the dyes or the fillers.  Have they been a problem for you with other medications?  If not, I wouldn't worry about it.

Heather