Tylenol 3 and Percocet are both pain relievers but that does not mean both are the same. In fact, there are a lot of differences between the two. One of the areas where both can be differentiated is by comparing the various constituents of the two drugs. Tylenol 3 contains three major active substances, caffeine, codeine, and acetaminophen. In contrast, Percocet contains Oxycodone and Paracetamol. Unlike Tylenol 3 that is used mostly in treating mild to moderate pain, Percocet works perfectly for moderate to severe acute pain.
This is because Tylenol 3 has been found out to be a less strong pain reliever compared to Percocet. However, due to the high efficacy of Percocet, it cannot be bought over the counter, but you can easily get Tylenol 3 over the counter if you need it. Although, the recommended dose of the two drugs is 1-2 pills, but Tylenol 3 is usually prescribed to be taken every 4 hours, whereas Percocet is usually prescribed to be taken every 6 hours.