Acetaminophen

What is acetaminophen? Acetaminophen is a very common over the counter medication that’s used to treat many types of pain and fever. It’s used for headaches, menstrual cramps, back and muscle aches, toothache and more.

Serious side effects of acetaminophen include: severe allergic reactions such as: swelling, rash, hives, and trouble breathing.

Acetaminophen is an analgesic that affects pain receptors in the brain so it takes away the pain sensation. Acetaminophen also temporarily relieves a fever. Acetaminophen can make you more comfortable during an illness, while it runs its course but it generally does not cure any problems so medical attention is often still necessary if a problem persists.

While acetaminophen is one of the most common drugs people tend to have in their medicine cabinet, it is still medication that needs to be regarded seriously in terms of dosage and potential contraindications. Acetaminophen overdose symptoms should be taken very seriously and could be fatal. Acetaminophen overdose happens regularly and while it is not always fatal, it can cause severe implications to your health. Acetaminophen toxicity could happen and cause liver damage or failure. Because your liver processes acetaminophen, liver acetaminophen overdose is a potential problem. Acetaminophen toxicity is most likely when alcohol is involved. Acetaminophen and alcohol should not be mixed. Acetaminophen overdose is serious and should be dealt with immediately by emergency room personnel in a hospital.

Acetaminophen with codeine is a frequent combination for extreme pain and is often prescribed post surgery for patient in recovery or even for extreme pain such as with a dental infection while the patient takes antibiotics. Other Acetaminophen abuse occurs when people look for information on separating hydrocodone from acetaminophen for an opiate or morphine-like effect.

It’s always prudent to pay attention to medications in the news and any fda acetaminophen recall. The Perrigo acetaminophen recall occurred when metal bits were discovered during quality assurance testing. A similar acetaminophen recall occurred when Tylenol had found tampering with their products many years ago which resulted in new safety wrappings and best practices for Tylenol. If a recall for acetaminophen occurs, it’s best to check lot numbers and follow directions in the press release. Pharmaceutical companies are very cautious as a rule about their product integrity so this is a rare problem.

Looking for safety seals and checking expiration dates is always a good idea with medication as well as paying attention to media reports of medication problems.