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Many people often turn to over-the-counter medications to deal with life's aches and pains
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One of the most common being acetaminophen, commonly known by the brand name Tylenol
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It's long been known that acetaminophen communicates with the brain to dull or relieve a person's pain
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But a new study indicates that's not all it does. Researchers at Hebrew University in Israel have found that the drug also works outside the brain
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on the nerves that detect pain first. The findings center on a substance called AM404, which is made by the body after taking acetaminophen
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and works by cutting off specific channels that transmit pain signals. The study's authors say this discovery could lead to new types of painkillers that are safer and more precise
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They say because AM404 targets only the nerves that transmit pain, it might avoid the numbness, muscle weakness, and side effects that come with traditional local anesthetics
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