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Increase Your Awareness With Basic Facts About Acetaminophen
BY NIKKI AND ANNE HEART ♥ January 14, 2025
*Picture displayed are of general pills and should not be used as a pill identifier.
The following highlights the facts. More information can be obtained through the sites listed below as well as many other informational sites regarding prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Medication facts can change. Make sure you have all up-to-date information.
Basic Facts about Acetaminophen
- Acetaminophen is in a class of medications called analgesics (pain relievers) and antipyretics (fever reducers)
- It is available without a prescription
- Used to relieve mild to moderate pain from headaches, muscle aches, menstrual periods, colds and sore throats, toothaches, backaches, reactions to vaccinations (shots), and to reduce fever
- May be used to relieve pain from osteoarthritis
- Works by changing the way the body senses pain and by cooling the body
- Take by mouth, with or without food
Brand names:
- Actamin®
- Feverall®
- Panadol®
- Tempra Quicklets®
- Tylenol®
Brand names of combination products:
- Dayquil® (containing Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Pseudoephedrine)
- NyQuil Cold/Flu Relief® (containing Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Doxylamine)
- Percocet® (containing Acetaminophen, Oxycodone)
Other names:
- APAP
- N-acetyl-para-aminophenol
- Paracetamol
Acetaminophen comes in the following forms:
- tablet
- chewable tablet
- capsule
- suspension or suliton (liquid)
- extended-release tablet
- a tablet that dissolved quickly in the mouth
Acetaminophen may cause side effects. Some serious side effects are:
- red, peeling or blistering skin
- rash
- hives
- itching
- swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
- hoarseness
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- other side effects can occur
Some special precautions needed before and during taking acetaminophen:
- Check for any interactions with any other medication (prescription or over the counter), vitamins, supplements, herbal products
- Check with your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breast-feeding before take acetaminophen
- Limit alcohol consumption
Symptoms of overdose may include the following:
- nausea
- vomiting
- loss of appetite
- sweating
- extreme tiredness
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- pain in the upper right part of the stomach
- yellowing of the skin or eyes
- flu-like
- symptoms
In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222.
If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can’t be awakened, call 911 immediately.
Important Warning
Taking too much acetaminophen can cause liver damage, sometimes serious enough to require liver transplantation or cause death. You might accidentally take too much acetaminophen if you do not follow the directions on the prescription or package label carefully, or if you take more than one product that contains acetaminophen.
To be sure that you take acetaminophen safely, you should
- not take more than one product that contains acetaminophen at a time. Read the labels of all the prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking to see if they contain acetaminophen. Be aware that abbreviations such as APAP, AC, Acetaminophen, Acetaminoph, Acetaminop, Acetamin, or Acetam. may be written on the label in place of the word acetaminophen. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don’t know if a medication that you are taking contains acetaminophen.
- take acetaminophen exactly as directed on the prescription or package label. Do not take more acetaminophen or take it more often than directed, even if you still have fever or pain. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not know how much medication to take or how often to take your medication. Call your doctor if you still have pain or fever after taking your medication as directed.
- be aware that you should not take more than 4000 mg of acetaminophen per day. If you need to take more than one product that contains acetaminophen, it may be difficult for you to calculate the total amount of acetaminophen you are taking. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to help you.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver disease.
- not take acetaminophen if you drink three or more alcoholic drinks every day. Talk to your doctor about the safe use of alcohol while you are taking acetaminophen.
- stop taking your medication and call your doctor right away if you think you have taken too much acetaminophen, even if you feel well.
Sources used:
- Medlineplus.gov, National Library of Medicine, accessed January 13, 2025
- National Library of Medicine, Pain Management Medication, Queremel Milani DA, Davis DD. Pain Management Medications. [Updated 2023 Jul 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560692/, accessed June 14, 2024
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