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Acetaminophen  (Systemic)

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Brand Names

In the U.S.—

  • Aceta Elixir1
  • Aceta Tablets1
  • Acetaminophen Uniserts1
  • Actamin1
  • Actamin Extra1
  • Actamin Super2
  • Aminofen1
  • Aminofen Max1
  • Apacet Capsules1
  • Apacet Elixir1
  • Apacet Extra Strength Caplets1
  • Apacet Extra Strength Tablets1
  • Apacet, Infants'1
  • Apacet Regular Strength Tablets1
  • Aspirin Free Anacin Maximum Strength Caplets1
  • Aspirin Free Anacin Maximum Strength Gel Caplets1
  • Aspirin Free Anacin Maximum Strength Tablets1
  • Aspirin-Free Excedrin Caplets2
  • Banesin1
  • Bayer Select Maximum Strength Headache Pain Relief Formula2
  • Dapa1
  • Dapa X-S1
  • Datril Extra-Strength1
  • Feverall, Children's1
  • Feverall, Infants'1
  • Feverall Junior Strength1
  • Feverall Sprinkle Caps, Children's1
  • Feverall Sprinkle Caps Junior Strength1
  • Genapap Children's Elixir1
  • Genapap Children's Tablets1
  • Genapap Extra Strength Caplets1
  • Genapap Extra Strength Tablets1
  • Genapap, Infants'1
  • Genapap Regular Strength Tablets1
  • Genebs Extra Strength Caplets1
  • Genebs Regular Strength Tablets1
  • Genebs X-Tra1
  • Liquiprin Children's Elixir1
  • Liquiprin Infants' Drops1
  • Neopap1
  • Oraphen-PD1
  • Panadol, Children's1
  • Panadol, Infants'1
  • Panadol Junior Strength Caplets1
  • Panadol Maximum Strength Caplets1
  • Panadol Maximum Strength Tablets1
  • Phenaphen Caplets1
  • Redutemp1
  • Snaplets-FR1
  • St. Joseph Aspirin-Free Fever Reducer for Children 1
  • Suppap-1201
  • Suppap-3251
  • Suppap-6501
  • Tapanol Extra Strength Caplets1
  • Tapanol Extra Strength Tablets1
  • Tempra1
  • Tempra D.S1
  • Tempra, Infants'1
  • Tempra Syrup1
  • Tylenol Arthritis Extended Relief
  • Tylenol Children's Chewable Tablets1
  • Tylenol Children's Elixir1
  • Tylenol Children's Suspension Liquid1
  • Tylenol Extra-Strength Adult Liquid Pain Reliever 1
  • Tylenol Extra Strength Caplets1
  • Tylenol Extra Strength Gelcaps1
  • Tylenol Extra Strength Tablets1
  • Tylenol Infants' Drops1
  • Tylenol Infants' Suspension Drops1
  • Tylenol Junior Strength Caplets1
  • Tylenol Junior Strength Chewable Tablets1
  • Tylenol Regular Strength Caplets1
  • Tylenol Regular Strength Tablets1
  • Valorin1
  • Valorin Extra1

In Canada—

  • Abenol1
  • Actimol Chewable Tablets1
  • Actimol Children's Suspension1
  • Actimol Infants' Suspension1
  • Actimol Junior Strength Caplets1
  • Anacin-31
  • Anacin-3 Extra Strength1
  • Apo-Acetaminophen1
  • Atasol Caplets1
  • Atasol Drops1
  • Atasol Forte Caplets1
  • Atasol Forte Tablets1
  • Atasol Oral Solution1
  • Atasol Tablets1
  • Excedrin Caplets2
  • Excedrin Extra Strength Caplets2
  • Exdol1
  • Exdol Strong1
  • Panadol1
  • Panadol Extra Strength1
  • Robigesic1
  • Rounox1
  • Tempra Caplets1
  • Tempra Chewable Tablets1
  • Tempra Drops1
  • Tempra Syrup1
  • Tylenol Caplets1
  • Tylenol Children's Chewable Tablets1
  • Tylenol Drops1
  • Tylenol Elixir1
  • Tylenol Gelcaps1
  • Tylenol Junior Strength Caplets1
  • Tylenol Tablets1

Other commonly used names are APAP; paracetamol.

This information applies to the following medicines:
1.  Acetaminophen (a-seat-a-MIN-oh-fen)
2.  Acetaminophen and Caffeine (a-seat-a-MIN-oh-fen and kaf-EEN)
‡  Generic name product may be available in the U.S.
§  Generic name product may be available in Canada
*  Not commercially available in the U.S.
†  Not commercially available in Canada

Category


Description

Acetaminophen is used to relieve pain and reduce fever. Unlike aspirin, it does not relieve the redness, stiffness, or swelling caused by rheumatoid arthritis. However, it may relieve the pain caused by mild forms of arthritis.

This medicine is available without a prescription; however, your medical doctor or dentist may have special instructions on the proper dose of acetaminophen for your medical condition.

Acetaminophen is available in the following dosage forms:



Before Using This Medicine

If you are taking this medicine without a prescription, carefully read and follow any precautions on the label. For acetaminophen, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to acetaminophen or aspirin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy—Although studies have not been done in pregnant women, acetaminophen has not been reported to cause birth defects or other problems.

Breast-feeding—Although acetaminophen passes into the breast milk in small amounts, it has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children—This medicine has been tested in children and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults. However, some children's products containing acetaminophen also contain aspartame, which may be dangerous if it is given to children with phenylketonuria.

Older adults—Acetaminophen has been tested and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of acetaminophen. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:


Proper Use of This Medicine

Unless otherwise directed by your medical doctor or dentist :

To use acetaminophen oral granules (e.g., Snaplets-FR):

To use acetaminophen oral powders (e.g., Feverall Sprinkle Caps [Children's or Junior Strength]):

For patients using acetaminophen suppositories:

Dosing—

The dose of acetaminophen will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of acetaminophen. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to.

The number of capsules, tablets, teaspoonfuls of oral solution or suspension that you take, the amount of oral granules or powders that you take, or the number of suppositories that you use, depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you use each day and the time allowed between doses depend on the strength of the medicine.

Storage—

To store this medicine:


Precautions While Using This Medicine

Check with your medical doctor or dentist:

Check the labels of all prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines you now take. If any contain acetaminophen, check with your health care professional. Taking them together with this medicine may cause an overdose.

If you will be taking more than an occasional 1 or 2 doses of acetaminophen, do not drink alcoholic beverages. To do so may increase the chance of liver damage, especially if you drink large amounts of alcoholic beverages regularly, if you take more acetaminophen than is recommended on the package label, or if you take it regularly for a long time.

Taking certain other medicines together with acetaminophen may increase the chance of unwanted effects. The risk will depend on how much of each medicine you take every day, and on how long you take the medicines together. If your medical doctor or dentist directs you to take these medicines together on a regular basis, follow his or her directions carefully. However, do not take any of the following medicines together with acetaminophen for more than a few days unless your doctor has directed you to do so and is following your progress:

Acetaminophen may interfere with the results of some medical tests. Before you have any medical tests, tell the person in charge if you have taken acetaminophen within the past 3 or 4 days. If possible, it is best to call the laboratory where the test will be done about 4 days ahead of time, to find out whether this medicine may be taken during the 3 or 4 days before the test.

For diabetic patients:

For patients taking one of the products that contain caffeine in addition to acetaminophen:

If you think that you or anyone else may have taken an overdose of acetaminophen, get emergency help at once, even if there are no signs of poisoning. Signs of severe poisoning may not appear for 2 to 4 days after the overdose is taken, but treatment to prevent liver damage or death must be started as soon as possible. Treatment started more than 24 hours after the overdose is taken may not be effective.


Side Effects of This Medicine

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Also, check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.



Revised: 11/07/2002

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