South Middlesex Times

Over a two-day period in January, the New Jersey Poison Center was involved in the medical care of several patients from New Jersey who unintentionally consumed excessive amounts of acetaminophen while attempting to manage flu-like symptoms. Each patient is receiving antidotal therapy to avert liver failure and potential death.

"Cold and flu season is the time of year when we see an uptick in calls at the Poison Control Center related to the overuse of acetaminophen to alleviate flu-like symptoms," said Diane Calello, executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. "Most people don’t realize they’re at risk of overusing acetaminophen because they’re unaware so many medicines contain this ingredient. There are more than 600 products on the market that contain acetaminophen."

Bruce Ruck, managing director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center, noted that overdosing on acetaminophen is easier than many realize, leading quickly to severe health emergencies such as liver damage or failure, kidney failure, and even death.

Acetaminophen, found in Tylenol and numerous prescription pain medicines as well as over-the-counter cough, cold, and fever-reducing products, is safe when used correctly. However, exceeding the maximum daily limit of 4,000 milligrams can result in serious health issues.

"We want to stress that adults should never take more than the maximum daily limit of 4,000 milligrams of acetaminophen per day from all medicines combined in a 24-hour period," Calello stated. "It’s also important to make sure you’re not taking multiple doses of acetaminophen too close together as this can also lead to overdose and liver damage."

Infants and children face risks as well since many children's medications contain acetaminophen. The threshold for causing harm is lower for children compared to adults.

"When giving medicine to children, especially young children, give the amount of medicine recommended for their weight, not their age," Ruck advised.

Calello emphasized raising awareness about these risks: "We realize most people aren’t aware of the harm that can result from overusing acetaminophen, so we’re raising awareness to prevent accidental overdoses. We want people to be aware of the risks and to know how to use acetaminophen safely."

To avoid excessive consumption:

- Choose targeted products designed specifically for your symptoms.

- Check active ingredients across all medications being used.

- Avoid combining multiple OTC products containing acetaminophen simultaneously or within short intervals.

- Follow dosing directions on labels carefully.

For any concerns regarding dosage instructions or identifying medicines with acetaminophen content, individuals are encouraged to contact the New Jersey Poison Control Center for guidance. Assistance is available around-the-clock by calling 1-800-222-1222; emergency services should be contacted if someone experiences breathing difficulties or seizures.