Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen is a pain reliever found in many over-the-counter drugs such as Tylenol and Advil. It is also found in some cold and cough medications. This drug is used to relieve minor aches and pains that aren’t serious enough to warrant medical treatment.

Warnings/Side Effects

Large doses of acetaminophen are toxic to the liver. This drug should be used only on an occasional basis to relieve minor aches and pains; it should not be used to relieve chronic or daily pain because of the risk to the liver. Patients taking cold medicine in addition to pain medication should be careful to read ingredient labels so that they don’t take too much acentaminophen.

Some people are highly allergic to this drug and may experience swelling in the face, throat or tongue after taking acetaminophen. Allergic reactions are potentially fatal and require immediate medical treatment.