What is acetaminophen?
Acetaminophen, also commonly known as APAP or paracetamol, is a safe and effective pain reliever that benefits millions of consumers. There are about 600 products that contain acetaminophen, including cough and cold products and sleep aids. It is also an ingredient in many prescription pain relievers.
What does acetaminophen have to do with my liver?
Your liver helps break down and remove many chemicals or drugs that enter your body. Too much acetaminophen overloads the liver's ability to process the drug safely. Under certain circumstances, particularly when more acetaminophen is ingested than is recommended on the label, more of the toxic chemical is produced than the body can easily eliminate, resulting in serious damage to the liver.
What are the symptoms of liver damage?
The signs of liver disease include abnormally yellow skin and eyes, dark urine, light-colored stools, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. The signs can be similar to flu symptoms and may go unnoticed for several days if you believe your symptoms are related to a cold or flu you may already have. If you have taken more than the recommended dosage of acetaminophen, seek medical attention right away. Serious cases of liver disease may lead to mental confusion, coma and, death. For more information, visit www.fda.gov or call 1-888-INFOFDA.
I still don't feel well... can I take more than the recommended dose?
To avoid accidental overdosing, it's very important not to take more than the recommended dose on the
label. Also, you should not take acetaminophen for more days than recommended, or take more than one drug product that contains acetaminophen at the same time. Consumers should be aware that taking more than the recommended dose will not provide more relief.
Can I give it to my kids?
Parents should be cautious when giving acetaminophen to children. To help make sure your infant is getting the infants' formula and your child is getting the children's formula, you should read and follow the directions on the label every time you use a medicine. Parents are cautioned against giving any acetaminophen or cough and cold medications to children younger than 2 years of age without the advice of a health care provider.
For more information, check out this information about safety of over-the-counter medications.
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