Acetaminophen, the main ingredient in Tylenol, is meant to reduce the user’s physical pain. According to a study published Tuesday, it also reduces one’s ability to feel other people’s pain.
When researchers from Ohio State University gave college students the popular over-the-counter drug, they were less able to empathize with physical or social aches of other people, according to the paper, published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience…
“Empathy is important. If you are having an argument with your spouse and you just took acetaminophen, this research suggests you might be less understanding of what you did to hurt your spouse’s feelings,” Way said in a statement.
