Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen is a pain-relieving and fever-reducing medication. It suppresses pain symptoms but usually will not remove the underlying cause. It is therefore wise to consult a doctor or physical therapist if symptoms persist.

What is acetaminophen used for?

Acetaminophen can be used on your own initiative to reduce pain. It is important to stop taking acetaminophen when the pain has disappeared. Acetaminophen is often used for complaints such as muscle soreness, headache, joint pain, osteoarthritis, fever, colds, and back pain.

What are possible side effects of acetaminophen?

Although acetaminophen is available without a prescription, its use is not entirely without risk. As with other medications, there is also a chance of side effects with acetaminophen. Possible side effects are headache and hypersensitivity. The latter manifests as a skin rash, hives, or, in rare cases, shortness of breath. These side effects occur in 1 in 100 people.

With high doses of acetaminophen for months or years, there is an increased risk of serious side effects, such as liver damage. Liver damage can be recognized by yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes. Kidney damage also occurs. Possible signs of this are blood in the urine or fluid retention causing body parts to swell.

In addition, prolonged use of high doses of acetaminophen can lead to abnormalities in the blood count. Signs of this are unexplained bruising, sore throat with fever, and extreme fatigue.

In the event of the above symptoms, it is important to stop taking acetaminophen immediately and consult a doctor.

Where is acetaminophen available?

Acetaminophen has been on the market since 1893. It is available without a prescription at the supermarket, drugstore, or pharmacy. Acetaminophen is available as tablets, powder, liquid, or suppositories. For children, there is special children's acetaminophen. This has a lower dose of the active substance than regular acetaminophen. Well-known brand names of acetaminophen include Sinaspril, Apotel, and Panadol.