Tylenol was invented and introduced by McNeil Laboratories in 1955. The company's first Tylenol product was Tylenol Elixir for Children, which contained the active ingredient acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol). This product marked the first single-ingredient acetaminophen product by McNeil, aimed as a safer alternative to aspirin for relieving pain and reducing fever, especially in children. The brand name "Tylenol" was derived from parts of the chemical name of acetaminophen. Tylenol initially was marketed as a prescription product and later became available over the counter after Johnson & Johnson acquired McNeil Laboratories in 1959.
