Acetaminophen

Generic Name

• Hydrocodone/acetaminophen.

Brand names

• Vicodin, Vicodin ES, Anexsia, Lorcet, Lorcet Plus, Norco.

General Information

Acetaminophen is a common analgesic and antipyretic drug. Acetaminophen causes few side effects. The most common one is lightheadedness. Some people may experience trembling and pain in the side or the lower back. Acetaminophen passes into breast milk. It appears to be safe for use during breast-feeding but should be avoided if possible. Talk to your doctor before taking acetaminophen if you are breast-feeding a baby. Acetaminophen is also useful in managing more severe pain, allowing lower dosages of additional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or opioid analgesics to be used, thereby minimizing overall side-effects. It is a major ingredient in numerous cold and flu medications, as well as many prescription analgesics. It is considered safe for human use in recommended doses, but because of its wide availability, deliberate or accidental overdoses are fairly common. Acetaminophen relieves pain by elevating the pain threshold, that is, by requiring a greater amount of pain to develop before it is felt by a person. It reduces fever through its action on the heat-regulating center of the brain. It works by changing the way the body senses pain and by cooling the body. Smoking cigarettes may interfere with the effectiveness of acetaminophen. Smokers may need to take higher doses of the medicine, but should not take more than the recommended daily dosage unless told to do so by a physician.

Acetaminophen Dosage

• The oral dose for adults is 325 to 650 mg every 4-6 hours.
• The maximum daily dose is 4 grams.
• The oral dose for a child is based on the child's age, and the range is 40-650 mg every 4 hours.

Side Effects of Acetaminophen

The following side effects of Acetaminophen may includes:

• Hoarseness.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs.
• Hives.
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing.
• Loss of appetite.
• Stomach cramps or pain.

Warnings and precautions before taking Acetaminophen

• Tell your doctor if you have any serious medical condition.
• Do not take acetaminophen without first talking to your doctor if you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day or if you have had alcoholic liver disease.
• Acetaminophen is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is unlikely to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take acetaminophen without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
• Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to acetaminophen, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in the product.
• Smoking cigarettes may interfere with the effectiveness of acetaminophen. Smokers may need to take higher doses of the medicine, but should not take more than the recommended daily dosage unless told to do so by a physician.

Overdosage

• In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
• Symptoms of overdose may include: nausea, vomiting, pain in the upper right part of the stomach, extreme tiredness and loss of appetite.
• If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
• Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

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