Acetaminophen Overdose

You could be overdosing on something most of us have in our houses and don't even know it.

We're talking about simple, over-the-counter Acetaminophen, often sold as Tylenol. And more of us are overdosing then you'd think.

The problem is that even though Acetaminophen is sold just about everywhere, it is still a risky medication if too much of it is taken. And that's exactly what this new study is showing is happening.

Researchers found that nearly 1 in 4 people surveyed had taken more of this medicine than they should. The maximum recommended dose per day is 4,000 milligrams. That's a limit of 8 Extra Strength Tylenols per day. But this study found that 1 in 4 surveyed took more than that amount on a daily basis and 5% took more than 6,000 milligrams per day of Acetaminophen. Unfortunately for those taking too much of this medicine, the side effects include liver problems. And too much Acetaminophen can not only prove dangerous, but also fatal.

Part of the problem is that since it's sold over the countyer without a prescription, many of us think it's safe. It is, but only if it's used properly. The other issue is that many other pain medications, including prescription pain pills, also contain Acetaminophen, so you might be taking too much and not even realize it. So your best bet is to stay within the recommended limits, and when filling a prescription ask your pharmacist if the medicines you're picking up contain Acetaminophen.