what to do if you take too much acetaminophen

Tylenol, the most popular brand name for the over-the-counter hurting reliever acetaminophen, seems pretty safe. But before yous pop more pills than directed, exist enlightened that big doses of acetaminophen tin can lead to liver and kidney damage. In some cases, it can even be fatal.

That said, don't throw your bottle of pain relievers in the trash. But brand sure you never have more than than a total of four grams of acetaminophen in a 24-hr period. Y'all should too exist aware of any other medication you take that may also comprise acetaminophen.

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Causes and Statistics

Since the pain reliever is included as an active ingredient in many unlike over-the-counter (OTC) products, including those for headache relief, cold and flu, and coughing, you can have more than you realize pretty easily. 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 The states, according to a report published in the British Medical Journal. The same study notes that acetaminophen overdose accounts for 82,000 emergency room visits and 26,000 hospitalizations each yr.

Liver failure caused by acetaminophen is usually seen in:

• People who are depressed
• People in chronic pain
• People who misuse alcohol or narcotics
• People who take several acetaminophen medications at the same time

Sadly, some people overdose on acetaminophen in an attempt to commit suicide.

Accidental Overdose in Oklahoma

One case of accidental overdose occurred in Oklahoma when 17-yr-old Kellie Lynn McWilliams, who was having a migraine attack, took approximately twenty acetaminophen capsules. Each sheathing contained 500 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 than seven grams is considered a severe overdose.

When Kellie became ill, repeatedly vomiting, she was admitted to the hospital. She even told her mother, "I idea it was OK. It'southward just Tylenol, Ma." But the side effects of the overdose caused kidney and liver damage resulting in organ failure. Information technology ultimately led to her death.

How to Avoid Accidental Overdose

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 accept more 4 grams of acetaminophen within 24 hours. That's equal to iv,000 milligrams (mg), or about eight extra-strength (500 mg) tablets.

If y'all take a liver condition or drinking trouble, even this may be also much. Speak with your healthcare provider to determine the right dose for you.

Here are some do'south and don'ts for avoiding an accidental overdose.

Exercise's

• Ask someone to keep rail of what medications you lot take at what time to be sure you lot're not getting more than than the recommended dosage.

• Consider putting the maximum amount you can have in a day in a divide pill bottle to avoid taking more than you should.

• Go on a notepad next to your medications and jot down the times yous take a dose, what you take, and how much.

Don'ts

• Don't forget to count acetaminophen from other potential sources (for example, common opioids and OTC cold and flu products) when calculating your total daily dose.

• Don't take more if the maximum dosage of medication doesn't give you relief. Contact your healthcare provider or go to the emergency room.

Alternatives to Tylenol

While taking Tylenol for a headache is a reasonable approach, you may desire to consider a non-medication therapy beginning. For example, if you are sleep-deprived or hungry, taking a nap or eating a nutritious snack may soothe your headache.

If you lot find that you are taking Tylenol or another medication oft, it'south good to be aware that you may be at gamble for developing a medication overuse headache. This is a rebound headache that forms as a upshot of taking headache medication too much. Too much acetaminophen may mean y'all are taking it more than than 10 to xv days per month, depending on the specific drug.

Summary

Tylenol is a brand proper noun of acetaminophen. It helps with pain relief. Many people recall that information technology's harmless because it's an over-the-counter drug. But if yous accept likewise much of it, y'all could experience liver or kidney harm. Overdosing on acetaminophen can fifty-fifty lead to death.

To avoid overdose, never take more than iv grams of Tylenol within 24 hours. But if you take liver affliction or a drinking problem, even that may be likewise much. Check with your healthcare provider to make sure you are taking the right amount if you lot have either of these medical issues.

A Word From Verywell

The accept-home message here is to always read the labels and follow the dosage instructions when taking medicine. This goes for both over-the-counter and prescription medications.

Tylenol is by and large a condom and effective pain reliever for mild headaches and other aches and pains. But it can be fatal in large doses. This doesn't hateful you should avoid it. Instead, use it sensibly and properly.

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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to back up the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to acquire more than almost how we fact-check and keep our content authentic, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. Yoon E, Babar A, Choudhary K, Kutner M, Pyrsopoulos N. Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity: a comprehensive update.J Clin Transl Hepatol. 2016;4(2). doi:x.14218/JCTH.2015.00052

2. Rubin JB, Hameed B, Gottfried M, Lee WM, Sarkar One thousand; Astute Liver Failure Study Grouping. Acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure is more common and more astringent in women.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018;sixteen(six):936-946. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2017.11.042

3. Thusius NJ, Romanowicz Grand, Bostwick JM. Intentional or inadvertent acetaminophen overdose—how lethal it really is?Psychosomatics. 2019;60(half-dozen):574-581. doi:10.1016/j.psym.2019.05.001

4. Civan JM, Navarro V, Herrine SK, Riggio JM, Adams P, Rossi S. Patterns of acetaminophen use exceeding 4 grams daily in a hospitalized population at a tertiary care center.Gastroenterol Hepatol (North Y). 2014;ten(i):27-34.

Additional Reading

• Budnitz DS, Lovegrove MC, Crosby AE. Emergency department visits for overdoses of acetaminophen-containing products. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2011 Jun;forty(6):585-92. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2011.02.026

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Source: https://www.verywellhealth.com/can-you-overdose-on-tylenol-1718223

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