Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in Tylenol, and is
contained in many other types of medications. It is used to
treat conditions like colds, fevers, headaches, muscle aches,
arthritis or toothaches, and has become one of the most common
household medications used to relieve pain and treat fevers.
"People often think that acetaminophen is extremely safe because
it is a familiar medication that is frequently used to treat
pain. However, acetaminophen overdose is one of the most common
drug poisonings in the world," explained Salem Community
Hospital's Director of Pharmacy, Keith Meredith, Pharm D.
"Acetaminophen is found in a variety of over-the-counter and
prescription pain relievers. Tylenol is a brand name for
acetominophen, but there are several other medicines that
contain acetominophen as one of their combination of
ingredients. "The new recommended maximum dose of acetaminophen
per day has been dropped from 4000 mg to 3000 mg, in part due to
the risk of people taking other medications that contain