Acetaminophen, Oral/Rectal

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: analgesic

Generic and brand names: acetaminophen, oral; Aceta; Actamin; Apacet; Arthritis Pain Formula Aspirin Free; Aspirin Free Anacin, Maximum Strength; Aspirin Free Pain Relief; Children's Dynafed Jr.; Children's Genapap; Children's Panadol; Children's Panadol Drops; Children's Tylenol; Dupain; Dynafed Extra Strength; Genapap; Genapap Children's; Genapap Extra Strength; Genebs; Genebs Extra Strength; Halenol; Halenol Children's; Halenol Extra Strength; Halenol Extra Strength Caplets; Infants' Anacin-3 Drops; Infants' Genapap Drops; Infants' Tylenol Drops; Liquiprin; Liquiprin Infant Drops; Maranox; Mapap Extra Strength; Meda Cap; Meda Tab; Myapap Drops; Oraphen-PD; Panadol; Panadol Caplets; Panadol Children's; Panadol Junior Strength; Silapap; Silapap Children's Strength; Tapanol Extra Strength; Tapanol Extra Strength Caplets; Tempra; Tempra 2; Tempra Drops; Tempra Syrup; Tylenol Caplets; Tylenol Children's; Tylenol Extended Relief; Tylenol Extra Strength; Tylenol Extra Strength Caplets; Tylenol Extra Strength Gelcaps; Tylenol Junior Strength; Tylenol Regular Strength; Acephen; Acetaminophen Uniserts; acetaminophen, rectal; Feverall, Children's; Feverall, Junior Strength; Neopap

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth or by suppository (rectum) to relieve pain and reduce fever.

What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?

Tell your health care provider or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any nonprescription products, to avoid the risk of taking an overdose.

Many prescription and nonprescription medicines for pain, headache, and sinus congestion contain acetaminophen. Read the labels of nonprescription products to find out which may contain acetaminophen. If you cannot tell if you are taking more than the recommended dosage per day, ask you health care provider and pharmacist to review all of your medicines.

How should I use it?

Take this medicine exactly as your health care provider prescribes. Do not take more of it or take it longer than directed. Taking too much may cause liver damage. If you purchased this medicine without a prescription, follow the directions on the package. Read all of the precautions and warnings printed on the package.

This medicine is available in suppository form for rectal use when it cannot be taken orally.

Use this medicine with caution in children under age 5. Give children solutions that come in droppers and are prepared specially for infants. Do not give children liquid acetaminophen. Do not give children more than directed by your health care provider.

What should I watch out for?

Taking more than the recommended dose in any 24 hour period may cause liver damage. The maximum dosage per day is usually 4 grams (8 extra strength tablets of 500 mg each) for adults or 41 milligrams per pound for children.

Do not take this medicine for more than 10 days in a row unless your health care provider approves.

If you think you have taken an overdose, get medical help right away. Some signs of overdose are heavy sweating, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Contact your health care provider right away if your eyes or skin turn yellowish (a rare side effect).

Alcohol may increase the chance of liver damage by this medicine. Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine. Ask your health care provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Yellowish eyes or skin, rash, hives, itching, bloody or cloudy urine, trouble urinating, tiredness, weakness, sore throat, fever.

What products might interact with this medicine?

If you are taking a buffered (fizzing) form of this medicine, do not take it within an hour of taking a tetracycline antibiotic.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.