paracetamol is also known as acetaminophen in the united states and is marketed as tylenol along with other product names. anacin is a combination of aspirin and caffeine. both are effective medications and both have potentially harmful side effects. paracetamol can through its breakdown products cause damage to the liver and kidney. generally doses should be kept below four grams per day although some physicians believe that when used chronically the dose should be kept below two grams per day. aspirin's most common side effect is gastric upset and ulceration. it also interferes with blood clotting which is why it is used to help prevent heart disease. with large toxic doses it can cause life-threatening problems with acidosis (excessive acid in the fluids and tissues of the body). a standard maximum daily dosage is six 325 mg pills per day. these drugs can also in large doses cause difficulty with hearing including tinnitus and deafness. you should let your family physician know what you are taking so that he or she can monitor you for side effects and possible drug interactions. in addition you need to be aware of what is in other over-the-counter medications that you take to make sure that they do not have either paracetamol or aspirin in them making your daily intake of these medications higher than you think.
are there long-term harmful effects to taking anacin or paracetamol for chronic migraine-tension headaches?