Acetaminophen is a very common pain reliever and fever reducer. Taking too much of this active ingredient can lead to liver damage. The risk for liver damage may be increased if you drink three or more alcoholic drinks while using acetaminophen-containing medicines.

Acetaminophen is an active ingredient found in more than 600 over-the-counter and prescription medicines, such as pain relievers, cough suppressants and cold medications. It is safe and effective when used correctly, but taking too much can lead to liver damage. Different medicines contain different amounts, so follow dosage directions carefully. And don’t take more than one acetaminophen product a day without first speaking to a health care professional.

NSAIDs are common pain relievers and fever reducers. Pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen are known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These medicines are safe and effective when taken as directed, but can cause stomach bleeding or kidney problems in some people. So read the label warnings, and follow dosage directions carefully. And be sure to talk with your health care professional or pharmacist if you have any questions.  Examples of OTC NSAIDs are aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and ketoprofen. There are some factors that can increase your risk for stomach bleeding:

(NAPS) — Acetaminophen is a safe and effective pain reliever that benefits millions of consumers. However, taking too much could lead to serious liver damage. There are about 600 products that contain acetaminophen, including cough and cold products and sleep aids. It is also an ingredient in many prescription pain relievers. The Food and Drug Administration warns consumers that all over-the-counter pain relievers should be taken with care to avoid serious problems that can occur with misuse.

Parents should be cautious when giving acetaminophen to children. For example, the infant drop formula is three times stronger than the children’s suspension. To help make sure your infant is getting the infants’ formula and your child is getting the children’s formula, you should read and follow the directions on the label every time you use a medicine. Parents are cautioned against giving any acetaminophen or cough and cold medications to children under 2 years of age without the advice of a health care provider.

Avoid Overdosing

To avoid accidental overdosing, it’s very important not to take more than the recommended dose on the label. Also, you should not take acetaminophen for more days than recommended, or take more than one drug product that contains acetaminophen at the same time. Consumers should be aware that taking more than the recommended dose will not provide more relief.

Liver Damage

Your liver helps break down and remove many chemicals or drugs that enter your body. Too much acetaminophen overloads the liver’s ability to process the drug safely. Under certain circumstances, particularly when more acetaminophen is ingested than is recommended on the label, more of the toxic chemical is produced than the body can easily eliminate, resulting in serious damage to the liver.

Signs of Liver Disease

The signs of liver disease include abnormally yellow skin and eyes, dark urine, light-colored stools, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. The signs can be similar to flu symptoms and may go unnoticed for several days if you believe your symptoms are related to a cold or flu you may already have. Serious cases of liver disease may lead to mental confusion, coma and death.

NSAIDs can also cause reversible damage to the kidneys. The risk of kidney damage may increase in:

The FDA recommends that you talk with your healthcare professional if you have questions about using an OTC medicine before using it in combination with other medicines — either OTC or prescription medicine.