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" The headlines have been buzzing with talk about acetaminophen. That&amp;#039;s because an advisory panel recently recommended that the FDA adopt some substantial changes. For starters, the panel says that 1,000 mg of acetaminophen (found in the standard two-tablet dose of Extra Strength Tylenol) is too much. Instead, they want the maximum single OTC dose to be limited to 650 mg. They also want the maximum amount you can take in one day to be lowered. Another recommendation is to pull prescription painkillers (like Percoset and Vicodin) that contain a combo of acetaminophen and a narcotic off the market completely.  Why all the fuss over a common pain medication? Taking too much acetaminophen is the #1 cause of liver failure in the U.S. Liver damage can cause nausea, vomiting, and allow toxins to build up in your body. It can even be deadly.  Before you panic, you should know that it&amp;#039;s fine and safe to use acetaminophen in small doses. If you truly have a splitting headache and want to pop some Excedrin (which contains acetaminophen), go for it. Dr. Steven Marcus, executive director of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System, tells me that most problems arise when people take more than the label suggests. Haven&amp;#039;t you ever thought, &amp;quot;The label says I can take 2 pills, but my headache is really bad, so why not take 3 or 4?&amp;quot; Another major no-no, says Dr. Marcus, is combining different products (headache meds, sleep aids, cough medicine, etc.) that all contain acetaminophen. Lots of us do this without realizing it, so be careful and always read the ingredients!  Last warning: Don&amp;#039;t drink alcohol while taking acetaminophen, and if you&amp;#039;ve abused alcohol or your liver is compromised for another reason, it&amp;#039;s probably best to steer clear of acetaminophen entirely (unless your doc gives you the OK). Have a happy, healthy Fourth of July! \u2014Barbara Brody, Health Editor Share your best healthy home remedy with Woman&amp;#039;s Day and win! Click here to learn more about our contest.  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/a43738/acetaminophen-dangers-4685/>