The label may not spell out the whole word or may have an abbreviation, such as “APAP, AC, Acetaminophn, Acetaminoph, Acetaminop, Acetamin or Acetam. “
Too much acetaminophen
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), taking too much acetaminophen can damage your liver. The recommended maximum daily dose is 4,000 milligrams (mg) per day for adults. However, the difference between a safe dose of acetaminophen and one that may harm the liver is very small. McNeil Consumer Healthcare (the maker of Tylenol) lowered their recommended maximum daily dose to 3,000 mg. Many pharmacists and healthcare providers agree with this recommendation.
Other factors add to the risk of liver damage when taking acetaminophen. For example, the chance of liver damage is greater if you already have liver problems, if you drink three or more alcoholic beverages a day, or if you take warfarin.
In severe cases, an overdose of acetaminophen can cause liver failure or death.
1-14-2014: This list was accurate at the time this Drug Safety Communication was published on 1-13-2011; however, it is no longer accurate. FDA intends to publish a new list once the withdrawals currently in process of combination drug products containing more than 325 mg acetaminophen per dosage unit are finalized. |
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Brand Name | Generic Name | Dosage Form | Strength |
---|---|---|---|
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Aspirin; Codeine Phosphate | Capsule; Oral | 150mg; 180mg; 30mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Dihydrocodeine Bitartrate | Capsule; Oral | 356.4mg; 30mg; 16mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Dihydrocodeine Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 712.8mg; 60mg; 32mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Codeine Phosphate | Solution; Oral | 120mg/ 5mL; 12mg/ 5mL |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Codeine Phosphate | Tablet; Oral | 300mg; 15mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Codeine Phosphate | Tablet; Oral | 650mg; 30mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Codeine Phosphate | Tablet; Oral | 650mg; 60mg |
Capital and Codeine | Acetaminophen; Codeine Phosphate | Suspension; Oral | 120mg/ 5mL; 12mg/ 5mL |
Tylenol W/ Codeine No. 3 | Acetaminophen; Codeine Phosphate | Tablet; Oral | 300mg; 30mg |
Tylenol W/ Codeine No. 4 | Acetaminophen; Codeine Phosphate | Tablet; Oral | 300mg; 60mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine | Tablet; Oral | 500mg; 50mg; 40mg |
Esgic-Plus | Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine | Tablet; Oral | 500mg; 50mg; 40mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine | Capsule; Oral | 500mg; 50mg; 40mg |
Esgic-Plus | Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine | Capsule; Oral | 500mg; 50mg; 40mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine | Tablet; Oral | 325mg; 50mg; 40mg |
Fioricet | Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine | Tablet; Oral | 325mg; 50mg; 40mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine Phosphate | Capsule; Oral | 325mg; 50mg; 40mg; 30mg |
Fioricet w/ codeine | Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine Phosphate | Capsule; Oral | 325mg; 50mg; 40mg; 30mg |
Phrenilin with Caffeine and Codeine | Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine Phosphate | Capsule; Oral | 325mg; 50mg; 40mg; 30mg |
Anexsia | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 500mg; 5mg |
Anexsia | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 750mg; 10mg |
Anexsia 5/ 325 | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 325mg; 5mg |
Anexsia 7.5/ 325 | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 325mg; 7.5mg |
Anexsia 7.5/ 650 | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 650mg; 7.5mg |
Co-Gesic | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 500mg; 5mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Capsule; Oral | 500mg; 5mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Solution; Oral | 325mg/ 15mL; 10mg/ 15mL |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Solution; Oral | 325mg/ 15mL; 7.5mg/ 15mL |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Solution; Oral | 500mg/ 15mL; 10mg/ 15mL |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Solution; Oral | 500mg/ 15mL; 7.5mg/ 15mL |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 300mg; 10mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 300mg; 5mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 300mg; 7.5mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 500mg; 2.5mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 500mg; 7.5mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 650mg; 10mg |
Lortab | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 500mg; 10mg |
Lortab | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 500mg; 5mg |
Norco | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 325mg; 10mg |
Norco | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 325mg; 5mg |
Norco | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 325mg; 7.5mg |
Vicodin | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 500mg; 5mg |
Vicodin Es | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 750mg; 7.5mg |
Vicodin Hp | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 660mg; 10mg |
Zydone | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 400mg; 10mg |
Zydone | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 400mg; 5mg |
Zydone | Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Tablet; Oral | 400mg; 7.5mg |
Oxycet | Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride | Tablet; Oral | 325mg; 5mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride | Tablet; Oral | 300mg; 10mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride | Tablet; Oral | 300mg; 2.5mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride | Tablet; Oral | 300mg; 5mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride | Tablet; Oral | 300mg; 7.5mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride | Tablet; Oral | 400mg; 10mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride | Tablet; Oral | 400mg; 2.5mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride | Tablet; Oral | 400mg; 5mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride | Tablet; Oral | 400mg; 7.5mg |
No Current Brand Name | Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride | Tablet; Oral | 500mg; 10mg |
Percocet | Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride | Tablet; Oral | 325mg; 10mg |
Percocet | Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride | Tablet; Oral | 325mg; 2.5mg |
Percocet | Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride | Tablet; Oral | 325mg; 5mg |
Percocet | Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride | Tablet; Oral | 325mg; 7.5mg |
Percocet | Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride | Tablet; Oral | 500mg; 7.5mg |
Percocet | Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride | Tablet; Oral | 650mg; 10mg |
Roxicet | Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride | Solution; Oral | 325mg/ 5mL; 5mg/ 5mL |
Roxicet | Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride | Tablet; Oral | 325mg; 5mg |
Roxicet 5/ 500 | Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride | Tablet; Oral | 500mg; 5mg |
Roxilox | Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride | Capsule; Oral | 500mg; 5mg |
Tylox | Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride | Capsule; Oral | 500mg; 5mg |
Talacen | Acetaminophen; Pentazocine Hydrochloride | Tablet; Oral | 650mg; EQ 25mg BASE |
Ultracet | Acetaminophen; Tramadol Hydrochloride | Tablet; Oral | 325mg; 37.5mg |
Causes of acetaminophen overdose
In adults
The overwhelming majority of the time, acetaminophen is taken safely and according to the directions. Some common reasons that people may accidentally take more than the recommended daily dose of acetaminophen include:
- taking the next dose too soon
- using multiple medicines that contain acetaminophen at the same time
- taking too much at one time
People can also take several drugs that contain acetaminophen without even knowing it. For example, you may take a daily prescription medicine that contains acetaminophen. If you get sick, you may reach for an OTC cold medicine. However, many cold medications also have acetaminophen. Taking both drugs in the same day may lead to unintentionally taking more than the maximum daily dose. Poison Control recommends that you tell your healthcare provider about all prescription and OTC medicines that you’re taking to make sure that you aren’t taking too much acetaminophen. For a list of common medicines that contain acetaminophen, visit KnowYourDose.org.
You should talk to a healthcare provider before taking acetaminophen if you have three or more alcoholic drinks every day. Together, acetaminophen and alcohol increase the chance of overdose and liver damage.
In children
Children may also unintentionally take more acetaminophen than recommended by taking too much at once or taking more than one product with acetaminophen.
Other factors can also increase the chance of overdose in children. For example, a parent may give their child a dose of acetaminophen without realizing that the babysitter recently did the same. Plus, it’s possible to measure the liquid form of acetaminophen incorrectly and give too large of a dose. Children may also mistake acetaminophen for candy or juice and accidentally ingest it.
In children
Don’t give your child medication that contains acetaminophen unless it’s necessary for their pain or fever.
Ask your child’s healthcare provider how much acetaminophen you should use, especially if your child is younger than 2 years old.
Use your child’s weight to guide how much you give. Dosage based on their weight is more accurate than dosage based on their age. Measure liquid acetaminophen using the dosing device that comes with the medicine. Never use a regular teaspoon. Regular spoons vary in size and won’t give an accurate dose.
For adults
Always read and follow the label. Never take more medicine than the label says. Doing so is an overdose and can lead to liver damage. If you have pain that isn’t relieved by the maximum dose, do not take more acetaminophen. Instead, talk to your healthcare provider. You may need a different medicine or treatment. Acetaminophen is only for mild to moderate pain.
Also known as…
- On prescription medicine labels, acetaminophen is sometimes listed as APAP, acetam, or other shortened versions of the word. Outside of the United States, it may be called paracetamol.
Know if your medications contain acetaminophen. Check the active ingredients listed on the labels of all your medications. On over-the-counter drug labels, the word “acetaminophen” is written on the front of the package or bottle. It’s also highlighted or bolded in the active ingredient section of the Drug Facts label.
Take only one medication at a time that contains acetaminophen. Tell your healthcare provider about all prescription and OTC drugs that you’re taking to make sure you aren’t taking too much acetaminophen. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have questions about dosing instructions or medicines that contain acetaminophen.
Also, talk to your healthcare provider before taking acetaminophen if you:
- drink three or more alcoholic drinks per day
- have liver disease
- take warfarin
You may be at greater risk of liver damage.