Don't Overdo It with Acetaminophen

If you woke up with a headache this morning, you may have reached for an over-the-counter pain reliever. Millions of people do that everyday, and there's usually no problem. Over-the-counter pain relievers are effective for treating minor aches and pains. But they're only safe if you follow the directions.

That's particularly important with acetaminophen, an active ingredient in many over-the-counter and prescription medicines that are used to relieve pain or reduce a fever. Acetaminophen is generally safe at recommended doses, but if you take more than that, even just a little more, it can cause serious, even fatal liver damage. In fact, acetaminophen poisoning is a leading cause of liver failure in this country.

You don't have to look very far to find acetaminophen. It's sold under a number of brand names, such as Tylenol, and it's often included with other ingredients in over-the-counter cough and cold medicines, as well as sleep aids. Acetaminophen is also found in prescription medicines, such as Vicodin and Percocet, but that may not be clear from the label.

If you take several medicines that all contain acetaminophen, you might take more than the recommended dose without realizing it.




To avoid taking too much acetaminophen, it's important to know if your medicine contains it. If you're taking an over-the-counter medicine, look for the name acetaminophen on the Drug Facts label under the section called "Active Ingredients." If you're taking a prescription medicine and you don't know the active ingredients, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Then follow all the directions on the Drug Facts label or prescription label. For safety's sake, don't take more than one medicine at a time that contains acetaminophen. And don't take more than the maximum amount, even if your pain or fever isn't getting better. Be sure you know how many hours you need to wait before taking another dose.

If you have 3 or more alcoholic drinks per day or have liver disease, this could increase your risk of liver damage, so talk to your doctor before taking medicines that contain acetaminophen.

Finally, when giving acetaminophen to children, make sure to use the right formulation for your child's age and weight. Use that formulation in the right amount and at the right time. To avoid error, use the measuring tool that comes with the medicine and keep a record of the times and doses you give your child. Share that record with your child's caregivers, so they'll know how much medicine your child has had.

If you take acetaminophen, please be careful. Read the label and follow the directions.

FDA Patient Safety News: June 2009

For more information, please see our website:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/psn/transcript.cfm?show=87#9

Category:

Education

Tags:

• acetaminophen
• Tylenol
• Vicodin
• Percocet
• liver
• poisoning
• overdose
• pain relief
• sleep aids
• cough medicine
• cold medicine
• FDA

[jstb0b]

acetaminophen in opiate painkillers is more of a deterrent than a means to help with pain. people who abuse their painkillers will do it regardless so in the spirit of harm reduction look up cold water extraction. it is a very easy method that separates the opiate medication from the tylenol. many docs prescribe high amounts of meds such as hydrocodone (which include 650mg or less of tylenol). so it then becomes regular for someone to take abnormal amounts of tylenol; up to 3 grams. poor liver

[jessa808100]

im really freaked out i took 9 pills today im really starting to feel realllllllllly weird

[dumbblonde99775]

okay i jut took two theraflu pills, does that mean i can't take a.d.d. medicine today?

[SOLDERBOY69]

@smileyg333 not at all! 4K is the daily suggested, you can take a lot more. I have been taking 6000mgs a day for 5 years and never had a problem. 30 pills at 1 time will kill you and you aren't supposed to take more than 1k every 6 hours. You can go by weight, 100 mgs per Kilo. It would take over 40kmgs to kill a man my size, swallowing over 30 pills is a alot. taking 12 a day spread out will not kill you in 90 percent of cases!

[smileyg333]

i heard you will die if you take over 4000mg of acetaminophen. im not a doctor though??

[rainecarter]

i took 3 because i had a huge headachee is that baadd, im like freaked out now .

[partyongarth420]

of course it fucks up the liver.. who gives a fuck.. how else are you going to get rid of a massive haedache when your at work... i try to sleep a headache off but sometimes its really bad or whaetver... im sure if u haev a realy bad back or something and ur taking tylanol or ib profin everyday its gonna fuck ur liver up. thats the way it works... my backs kinda tweaked out from sitting on the floor. i like ib profin..

[aperzins]

Very informative.

[petertoshiro]

This video clip is worth watching and educational...especially to those who experiencing migraine like me...likewise these YouTubers who shared their ridiculous thoughts somehow ease the pain...hehehehe...

[piratedebo]

Third