Acetaminophen is an analgesic (pain reliever) and an antipyretics (fever reducer). It is used to relieve mild to moderate pain from headaches, muscle aches, menstrual periods, colds and sore throats, toothaches, backaches, and reactions to vaccinations (shots), and for fever reduction. It is also known by its International Nonproprietary Name (INN), Paracetamol. Acetaminophen is the United States Adopted Name (USAN).
Acetaminophen works by changing the way the body senses pain and by cooling the body. It is available as an over-the-counter drug and commonly comes in tablet, capsule and liquid (suspension or solution) form.
Acetaminophen overdoses in children can be life-threatening but are avoidable
Acetaminophen, a widely available over-the-counter medication, can cause liver toxicity in children if doses are exceeded, and more public education is needed to warn of potential adverse effects, states an article published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
"Acetaminophen overdose is a major cause of acute liver failure and is the most common identifiable cause of acute liver failure in children," writes Dr. Rod Lim, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, with coauthors. "Repeated supratherapeutic dosing [above the recommended dose], accidental overdose due to error and intentional ingestion can all result in acute liver failure and even death."
