What happens if I overdose Acetaminophen Extra Strength?
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include coma; dark urine; decreased urination; excessive sweating; extreme fatigue; nausea and vomiting; pale stools; stomach pain; unusual bruising or bleeding; yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Proper storage of Acetaminophen Extra Strength injection:
Acetaminophen Extra Strength injection is usually handled and stored by a health care provider. If you are using Acetaminophen Extra Strength injection at home, store Acetaminophen Extra Strength injection as directed by your pharmacist or health care provider. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Acetaminophen Extra Strength injection out of the reach of children and away from pets.
Overdose of Acetaminophen Extra Strength in details
When a dose is taken in higher dose than the recommended doses, it is called Overdose. Overdose always needs a clinical supervision. Any medicine or drug when consumed in Overdose produces untoward side effects on one or various organs in the body. A medicine is excreted in the kidney or metabolized in the liver most of the times. This process goes without any hurdles when taken in normal dose, but when taken in an overdose, the body is not able to metabolize it or send it out properly which causes the effects of anoverdose.
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Signs and Symptoms
In acute Acetaminophen Extra Strength overdosage, dose-dependent, potentially fatal hepatic necrosis is the most serious adverse effect. Renal tubular necrosis, hypoglycemic coma, and thrombocytopenia may also occur. Plasma Acetaminophen Extra Strength levels > 300 mcg/mL at 4 hours after oral ingestion were associated with hepatic damage in 90% of patients; minimal hepatic damage is anticipated if plasma levels at 4 hours are < 150 mcg/mL or < 37.5 mcg/mL at 12 hours after ingestion. Early symptoms following a potentially hepatotoxic overdose may include: nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis, and general malaise. Clinical and laboratory evidence of hepatic toxicity may not be apparent until 48 to 72 hours post- ingestion.
Treatment
If an Acetaminophen Extra Strength overdose is suspected, obtain a serum Acetaminophen Extra Strength assay as soon as possible, but no sooner than 4 hours following oral ingestion. Obtain liver function studies initially and repeat at 24-hour intervals. Administer the antidote N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as early as possible. As a guide to treatment of acute ingestion, the Acetaminophen Extra Strength level can be plotted against time since oral ingestion on a nomogram (Rumack-Matthew). The lower toxic line on the nomogram is equivalent to 150 mcg/mL at 4 hours and 37.5 mcg/mL at 12 hours. If serum level is above the lower line, administer the entire course of NAC treatment. Withhold NAC therapy if the Acetaminophen Extra Strength level is below the lower line.
For additional information, call a poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while taking Acetaminophen Extra Strength?
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medication. Acetaminophen Extra Strength (sometimes abbreviated as APAP) is contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much Acetaminophen Extra Strength which can lead to a fatal overdose. Check the label to see if a medicine contains Acetaminophen or APAP.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your risk of liver damage while taking Acetaminophen Extra Strength.
Acetaminophen Extra Strength warnings
Warnings are a mix of Precautions. Contraindications and interactions and serious harmful effects associated with the medicine intake. A diabetic or Hypertensive patient need to be warned about few drug interactions. A known hypersensitivity patient needs to be careful about the reactions or anaphylactic shock. A pregnant woman or a breastfeeding woman should be warned of certain medications. A Hepatitis [liver disease] patient or a cardiac patient should avoid few drugs.
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Keep out of reach of children.
Caution is advised for this formulation with extra strength dosing of Acetaminophen Extra Strength due to the easily chewable gels and good taste. This is not a candy and the same caution with every medication should be applied to this product.
Hepatotoxicity
This product contains Acetaminophen. Severe liver damage may occur if you take
more than 4,000 mg of Acetaminophen Extra Strength in 24 hours
with other drugs containing Acetaminophen Extra Strength (prescription or nonprescription). If you are not sure whether a drug contains Acetaminophen, ask a physician or pharmacist.
3 or more alcoholic drinks every day while using this product
Acetaminophen Extra Strength has been associated with cases of acute liver failure, at times resulting in liver transplant and death. Most of the cases of liver injury are associated with the use of Acetaminophen Extra Strength at doses that exceed 4,000 milligrams per day, and often involve more than one Acetaminophen Extra Strength-containing product. The excessive intake of Acetaminophen Extra Strength may be intentional to cause self-harm or unintentional as patients attempt to obtain more pain relief or unknowingly take other Acetaminophen Extra Strength-containing products.
The risk of acute liver failure is higher in individuals with underlying liver disease and in individuals who ingest alcohol while taking Acetaminophen Extra Strength.
Instruct patients to look for Acetaminophen Extra Strength or APAP on package labels and not to use more than one product that contains Acetaminophen. Instruct patients to seek medical attention immediately upon ingestion of more than 4,000 milligrams of Acetaminophen Extra Strength per day, even if they feel well.
Serious Skin Reactions
Rarely, Acetaminophen Extra Strength may cause serious skin reactions such as acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), which can be fatal. Patients should be informed about the signs of serious skin reactions, and use of the drug should be discontinued at the first appearance of skin rash or any other sign of hypersensitivity.
Acetaminophen Extra Strength may cause severe skin reactions. Symptoms may include
skin reddening
blisters
rash
If a skin reaction occurs, stop use and seek medical help right away. Do not use if you are allergic to Acetaminophen Extra Strength or any of the inactive ingredients in this product.
Sore throat warning: if sore throat is severe, persists for more than 2 days, is accompanied or followed by fever, headache, rash, nausea, or vomiting, consult a doctor promptly.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Acetaminophen Extra Strength?
Some medical conditions may interact with Acetaminophen Extra Strength injection. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
if you have a history of alcohol abuse or you drink more than 3 alcohol-containing drinks every day
if you have liver problems (eg, hepatitis), poor nutrition, low blood volume (eg, caused by dehydration or blood loss), or kidney problems
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Acetaminophen Extra Strength injection. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin) because the risk of their side effects, including bleeding, may be increased by Acetaminophen Extra Strength injection
Isoniazid or other medicines that may harm the liver (eg, methotrexate, ketoconazole, certain medicines for HIV infection) because the risk of liver problems may be increased. Ask your doctor if you are unsure if any of your medicines might harm the liver
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Acetaminophen Extra Strength injection may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
Acetaminophen Extra Strength precautions
Certain people who are very sick or very old or who are sensitive show an exacerbation of side effect of the drug which can turn dangerous at times. So, it is very important to remember the precautions while taking the medicine. Pregnancy and Breastfeeding are also special categories wherein extra care or precaution is needed when taking a drug. Few patients may have a hypersensitivity reaction to few medications, and that can be life-threatening rarely. Penicillin hypersensitivity is one example. Diarrhea, rashes are few other symptoms which need a watch. A patient with other co-existing diseases like liver disease, heart disease, kidney disease should take special precautions.
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Hepatic Injury
Administration of Acetaminophen Extra Strength in doses higher than recommended may result in hepatic injury, including the risk of liver failure and death. Do not exceed the maximum recommended daily dose of Acetaminophen Extra Strength. The maximum recommended daily dose of Acetaminophen Extra Strength includes all routes of Acetaminophen Extra Strength administration and all Acetaminophen Extra Strength-containing products administered, including combination products.
Use caution when administering Acetaminophen Extra Strength in patients with the following conditions: hepatic impairment or active hepatic disease, alcoholism, chronic malnutrition, severe hypovolemia (e.g., due to dehydration or blood loss), or severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance ≤ 30 mL/min).
Serious Skin Reactions
Rarely, Acetaminophen Extra Strength may cause serious skin reactions such as acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), which can be fatal. Patients should be informed about the signs of serious skin reactions, and use of the drug should be discontinued at the first appearance of skin rash or any other sign of hypersensitivity.
Risk of Medication Errors
Take care when prescribing, preparing, and administering Acetaminophen Extra Strength Injection in order to avoid dosing errors which could result in accidental overdose and death. In particular, be careful to ensure that:
the dose in milligrams (mg) and milliliters (mL) is not confused;
the dosing is based on weight for patients under 50 kg;
infusion pumps are properly programmed; and
the total daily dose of Acetaminophen Extra Strength from all sources does not exceed maximum daily limits.
Allergy and Hypersensitivity
There have been post-marketing reports of hypersensitivity and anaphylaxis associated with the use of Acetaminophen Extra Strength. Clinical signs included swelling of the face, mouth, and throat, respiratory distress, urticaria, rash, and pruritus. There were infrequent reports of life-threatening anaphylaxis requiring emergent medical attention. Discontinue Acetaminophen Extra Strength immediately if symptoms associated with allergy or hypersensitivity occur. Do not use Acetaminophen Extra Strength in patients with Acetaminophen Extra Strength allergy.
What happens if I miss a dose of Acetaminophen Extra Strength?
When you miss a dose, you should take it as soon as you remember, but you should take care that it should be well spaced from the next dose. You should not take an extra dose at the time of the second dose as it will become a double dose. The double dose can give unwanted side effects, so be careful. In chronic conditions or when you have a serious health issue, if you miss a dose, you should inform your health care provider and ask his suggestion.
Since Acetaminophen Extra Strength is used as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are using the medication regularly, use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Do not use Acetaminophen Extra Strength injection more often than every 4 hours.
References
DailyMed. "ACETAMINOPHEN; ASPIRIN; CAFFEINE: DailyMed provides trustworthy information about marketed drugs in the United States. DailyMed is the official provider of FDA label information (package inserts).". https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailyme... (accessed September 17, 2018).
