Case Evaluation

Acetaminophen: What Should I Know Before Taking Acetaminophen

What should I know before taking acetaminophen?

Before taking acetaminophen, carefully read and follow any precautions on the labels. Because some children's acetaminophen products contain aspartame, they may pose a danger to children with phenylketonuria. Also, acetaminophen may interfere with medical test results. Before undergoing any tests, tell the person in charge if you have taken acetaminophen in the last three or four days.

What should I tell my healthcare professional before using acetaminophen?

Tell your healthcare professional if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reactions to acetaminophen or aspirin, or to any other substances (foods, preservatives, or dyes); if you have any medical problems, especially alcohol abuse, kidney disease (severe), hepatitis or other liver disease, or phenylketonuria; if you are taking acetaminophen to relieve pain, including arthritis pain, and the pain lasts for more than 10 days for adults (or 5 days for children); if you are taking acetaminophen to reduce fever, and the fever lasts for more than 3 days or returns; or if you are taking acetaminophen to treat a sore throat, and the sore throat is very painful, lasts for more than 2 days, or occurs together with or is followed by fever, headache, skin rash, nausea, or vomiting. These could be signs of a serious condition that needs treatment.

What are the side effects associated with acetaminophen?

If you experience any of the following symptoms, contact your healthcare professional immediately: rash; hives; itching; swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs; hoarseness; or difficulty breathing or swallowing.

Does acetaminophen interact with any food or drugs?

To avoid any unwanted effects, tell your healthcare professional about any prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you take or plan to take. If you plan to take more than the occasional one or two doses of acetaminophen, do not drink alcoholic beverages. Doing so may increase the chance of liver damage, especially if you drink large amounts of alcoholic beverages regularly, if you take more acetaminophen that recommended on the package label, or if you take it regularly for a longer period of time.

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