Acetaminophen is in more than 600 prescription and over-the-counter medicines. When used as directed it’s safe and effective, but taking too much can lead to liver damage. Do you know your dose? KnowYourDose FactFriday FridayFeeling
You have flu symptoms, so you've been getting some relief for the past two days by taking a cough and flu medicine every few hours. Late in the day, you have a headache and you think about grabbing a couple of acetaminophen tablets to treat the pain.What you may not realize is that more than 600 medications, both prescription and over-the-counter , contain the active ingredient acetaminophen to help relieve pain and reduce fever.
Fathia Gibril, M.D., M.HSc., a supervisory medical officer at the Food and Drug Administration , explains that consumers looking for relief from a cold or the flu may not know that acetaminophen comes in combination with many other medications used to treat those symptoms."So if you're taking more than one medicine at a time," she says,"you may be putting yourself at risk for liver damage.
Even if you still have fever or pain, it's important not to take more than directed on the prescription or package label, notes FDA supervisory medical officer Sharon Hertz, M.D. But be careful, the word"acetaminophen" is not always spelled out in full on the container's prescription label. Abbreviations such as APAP, Acetaminoph, Acetaminop, Acetamin, or Acetam may be used instead.
When the medicine is intended for children, the"Directions" section of the Drug Facts label tells you if the medicine is right for your child and how much to give. If a dose for your child's weight or age is not listed on the label and you can't tell how much to give, ask your pharmacist or doctor what to do.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Double Cleansing Is the Foolproof Way to Really Get All of Your Makeup OffHere, three skincare experts breakdown the ritual, including how to properly double cleanse, the skincare benefits of a double cleanse, plus which products to use.
Read more »
Tea rooms and double-decker buses: Prince Harry may find home in Canada's royal cityPrince Harry and Meghan may feel at home in Canada's most royal city, Victoria, British Columbia, which has often been a stop for members of the royal family
Read more »
Lee Lee’s Double Chocolate Chunk BrowniesThese best-ever brownies feature dutch-process cocoa and plenty of chocolate chunks for the ultimate lunchbox dessert. Get the recipe at Food & Wine.
Read more »
Matt Damon To Re-Team With ‘Ford V Ferrari’ Helmer James Mangold On Don Winslow Novel ‘The Force’EXCLUSIVE: After Ford v Ferrari landed an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, Matt Damon and James Mangold are teaming again. Damon is attached to an adaptation of the 2017 Don Winslow bestseller Th…
Read more »
Tylenol a cancer risk? California considers warning on common painkiller acetaminophenAcetaminophen, an active ingredient in popular pain relief medications such as Tylenol and Excedrin, may be considered a carcinogen by California.
Read more »
What migraine sufferers need to know about Excedrin as production is haltedThe move to stop production on both drugs stems from inconsistencies with the ingredients, which are acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine.
Read more »