Tens of thousands of people become ill every year from taking too much acetaminophen. In a smaller number of cases—several hundred per year—it leads to death. But it need not happen to you. Lai Becker advises. The maximum daily dose for a healthy adult who weighs at least pounds is 4, milligrams mg. However, in some people, taking the maximum daily dose for extended periods can seriously damage the liver.
It's best to take the lowest dose necessary and stay closer to 3, mg per day as your maximum dose. If you need to take high doses of acetaminophen for chronic pain, check with your doctor first. For therapy options beyond the standard approaches to managing pain, buy the Harvard Special Health Report Pain Relief: Natural and alternative remedies without drugs or surgery. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.
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Thanks for visiting. Don't miss your FREE gift. Be extra careful with liquid medicines. Infants usually need a different dose than older children do. And some liquid forms are stronger more concentrated than others. Always read the label so that you give the right dose.
When you give medicine, use the tool that comes with the medicine, such as a dropper or a dosing cup. Don't use a spoon instead of the tool. Spoons can be different sizes. If the medicine doesn't come with a tool to give doses, ask your pharmacist for one. Acetaminophen can be found in many forms and comes in different doses. Do not give your child more than the maximum dose recommended on the label. Be careful when giving your child over-the-counter cold or flu medicines and acetaminophen Tylenol at the same time.
Many of these medicines already contain acetaminophen. Many people think OTC medicine is harmless, and that's just not true with regards to acetaminophen. Acetaminophen is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States, according to a report published in the British Medical Journal.
The same report notes that acetaminophen overdose accounts for 82, emergency room visits and 26, hospitalizations each year. Liver failure caused by acetaminophen is usually seen in:. Sadly, some people overdose on acetaminophen in an attempt to commit suicide. One case of accidental overdose occurred in Oklahoma when year-old Kellie Lynn McWilliams, who was having a migraine attack, took approximately 20 acetaminophen capsules.
Each capsule contained milligrams half a gram of acetaminophen. Her dose was equal to ingesting 10 grams of acetaminophen. The maximum recommended within 24 hours is 4 grams. And anything more than 7 grams is considered a severe overdose. When Kellie became ill, repeatedly vomiting, she was admitted to the hospital. She even told her mother, "I thought it was OK. It's just Tylenol, Ma. It ultimately led to her death.
When you're in the middle of experiencing pain from a headache or a migraine , your thinking isn't always clear. That makes it much easier to accidentally overdose on pain relievers. It is important to never take more than 4 grams of acetaminophen within 24 hours. That's equal to 4, milligrams mg , or about eight extra-strength mg tablets. If you have a liver condition or drinking problem, even this may be too much.
Speak with your healthcare provider to determine the right dose for you. Here are some do's and don'ts for avoiding an accidental overdose. Ask someone to keep track of what medications you take at what time to be sure you're not getting more than the recommended dosage.
Consider putting the maximum amount you can take in a day in a separate pill bottle to avoid taking more than you should. Call or poison control right away if you suspect you, your child, or someone you know took too much Tylenol. Early treatment is associated with lower mortality rates in both children and adults. Treatment for a Tylenol or acetaminophen overdose depends on how much was taken and how much time has passed.
If less than an hour has passed since the Tylenol was ingested, activated charcoal may be used to absorb the remaining acetaminophen from the gastrointestinal tract. When liver damage is likely, a drug called N-acetyl cysteine NAC may be given orally or intravenously. When used as directed, Tylenol is safe for most people. However, you should speak to your healthcare provider before using Tylenol if you have any of the following conditions:.
Tylenol may pose some risks to people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Be sure to speak to your healthcare provider before taking a Tylenol product. Tylenol can interact with other medications.
Overuse of acetaminophen probably happens more often than you think. This is due to acetaminophen being a common ingredient in many types of over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Acetaminophen overdoses are responsible for approximately 56, emergency room visits each year in the United States.
Around 50 percent of acetaminophen overdoses are unintentional. If you suspect someone is at risk of using Tylenol to harm themselves or has used Tylenol to harm themselves:.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, reach out to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at or text HOME to for help and support.
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