Acetaminophen

Trade Names: Acephen, Actamin, Anacin-3, Anesin, Apacet, Dapa, Datril, Genapap, Genebs, Gentabs, Halenol, Liquiprin, Meda Cap, Panadol, Panex, Suppap, Tempra, Tenol, Ty Caps, Tylenol

Type of Drug: Acetaminophen belongs to a general group of drugs called nonopioid analgesics, or pain relieving medicines. It is also an antipyretic, which means it can lower body temperature when a fever is present.

How Drug Works: Acetaminophen stops the body from making prostaglandins, which prevent pain receptors from passing the pain message to the brain. When this occurs, pain perception is decreased. This drug also reduces fever by helping the body to expand blood vessels so that heat is lost through sweating.

How Drug Is Given: Acetaminophen is given by mouth as a pill or capsule or by suppository rectally. The dose depends upon why the drug is taken and by how well your liver is working. Take the pill or capsule with a glass of water or juice. Coat the suppository with Vaseline if necessary and insert in the rectum with a gloved finger. Keep the medicine in a tightly closed container away from heat and moisture and out of the reach of children and pets.

How Should I Take This Drug? Take this drug exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand the instructions, ask your doctor or nurse to explain them to you.

Read the following information. If you do not understand it or if any of it causes you special concern, check with your doctor.

Before taking this drug, tell your doctor if you are taking any other prescription or over-the-counter drugs, including vitamins and herbals.

Should I avoid any other medicines, foods, alcohol, and/or activities? Your prescription and nonprescription medicines may interact with other drugs, causing harm. Certain foods or alcohol can also interact with drug products. Never begin taking a new medicine—prescription or nonprescription—without asking your doctor or nurse if it will interact with alcohol, food, or other medicines. Some drug products can cause drowsiness and affect activities such as driving.

Precautions: Acetaminophen can cause liver damage. Your doctor may suggest decreasing the dose or how often you take the medicine if you have liver or kidney damage.

It is important not to drink alcohol if you are taking acetaminophen as this may increase the chance of liver damage. Ask your doctor or nurse to tell you more about this.

Acetaminophen may be given with opioid pain relievers (analgesics) to provide more effective pain relief. Acetaminophen is also given to bring a fever down or to prevent a fever from occurring.

Since fever can be a sign of an infection, and taking acetaminophen on a regular basis could cover up an important sign of infection, ask your doctor if you should take acetaminophen when you have a fever. Your doctor may wish to learn about the fever first, then instruct you to take acetaminophen.

Tell all the doctors, dentists, and pharmacists you visit that you are taking this drug.

Most of the following side effects probably will not occur. Your doctor or nurse will want to discuss specific care instructions with you. They can help you understand these side effects and help you deal with them.

Side Effects:

Rare Side Effects Liver damage

Other side effects not listed above can also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor or nurse if you develop any problems.

FDA Approval: Yes