OTCsafety.org

English | Español

• tell a friend
• Twitter
• Digg
• Facebook

Know Your Dose

Acetaminophen is an ingredient in more than 600 different prescription and over-the-counter medicines, including pain relievers, fever reducers, and sleep aids as well as cough, cold, and allergy medicines. On prescription labels, acetaminophen may be listed as “APAP,” “acetam,” or other shortened versions of the word.

Because it’s in so many different medicines, people may be taking more than the recommended amount without realizing it. When used as directed, acetaminophen is safe and effective, but there is a limit to how much you can take in one day. Taking more acetaminophen than directed is an overdose and can lead to liver damage.

To help educate patients and consumers on how to appropriately use medicines that contain acetaminophen, the CHPA Educational Foundation, along with other members of the Acetaminophen Awareness Coalition, has launched the Know Your Dose campaign. Reaching out through healthcare provider offices, health clinics, pharmacies and other points of care, the campaign reminds patients and consumers to:

1. Always read and follow the label
2. Know if your medicines contain acetaminophen
3. Never take two medicines that contain acetaminophen at the same time

Visit KnowYourDose.org to order free educational materials, get tips on reading your over-the-counter and prescription labels and view a list of common medicines that contain acetaminophen.

Site provided by CHPA Educational Foundation ®

• Home
• About
• Resources
• Contact
• Media
• Terms of Use
• Privacy
• FDA Safety Alerts

All Rights Reserved CHPA Educational Foundation © 2010

OTCsafety.org content is intended for informational purposes only
and should not be considered medical advice. For more information,
please visit the OTCsafety.org “Terms of Use” page.