Acetaminophen is an analgesic commonly used for mild or moderate pain and fever. Considered to be one of the safest and most effective pain relievers, it is used by more than 100 million people every year. The drug is almost side-effect-free and it is found in numerous over-the-counter medications, but there seems to be a growing number of cases in which people wrongly measure their intake of acetaminophen, exposing themselves to serious health problems, namely liver failure. The product’s label clearly states the acceptable daily dosage, but some people consider it so harmless that they ignore the instructions or make the mistake of also taking other types of medication that contain acetaminophen. For some rare individuals, even the recommended amount can be harmful and the use of alcohol increases the risk of liver damage. This is a matter that should be taken into consideration because in severe cases, people may die without a liver transplant. In case of an acetaminophen poisoning, the remedy is N-acetylcysteine, but it is most effective if administered in the first 8 hours. Therefore, follow the instructions on the drug’s package and alert your doctor immediately in case of an overdose.

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