Often, when anybody experiences a headache, muscle aches, arthritis, the common cold, toothaches, menstrual cramps or a fever, they may reach for the common, over-the-counter drug known as Tylenol to relieve the symptoms. Tylenol is chemically known as acetaminophen. Often, you will be able to find this drug on drugstore shelves. There are at least 100 drugs that contain acetaminophen.

Acetaminophen is a drug that has many side effects and can cause adverse effects in the body that one should consider before taking this drug. In fact, there is not one drug that does not have side effects. It is therefore important for patients taking medications to read the warnings on the package.

Recently, acetaminophen has been shown to have many side effects. It can also interact with other drugs that you may be taking for different medical conditions.

In medical school, there are many courses that are taken that concern drug uses for many medical conditions. These drugs are numerous and often the physician will have to utilize a large volume, namely “The Physicians Desk Reference.”

The time allotted in medical school for the study of the pharmacology of the many drugs is not sufficient. Therefore, the physician may often want to consult with a pharmacist about the interaction of the prescribed drug and other medications that the patient may be taking. The course work of the pharmacist takes approximately five years for them to attain much knowledge concerning drugs and their chemistry. I have often had to call a pharmacist to make sure that the drug I was prescribing would not interact with a patient’s other prescriptions. At the end of a pharmacist’s studies, he has also obtained a PhD in pharmacology.

The side effects of acetaminophen are many and the following information should be taken seriously by those who are buying this drug off the shelf.

Do not take acetaminophen if you are taking any alcoholic beverages. It has been reported that this combination can cause liver damage. Do not take acetaminophen for muscle pains for more than seven days or for a fever lasting for more than three days unless directed by a doctor.

Do not take this drug if you have breathing problems such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, glaucoma or enlargement of the prostate gland. Do not use acetaminophen if you are taking sedatives or tranquilizers without first consulting with a doctor.

Acetaminophen should not be taken along with drugs used for depression, psychiatric or emotional conditions and Parkinson’s disease. If nervousness, dizziness or sleeplessness occur, discontinue the drug. If you are pregnant or nursing a baby, seek the advice of your doctor before using this product.

Do not exceed the recommended doses that are plainly written on the bottle.

It is evident from the above discussion that one should use caution when taking over-the-counter products such as acetaminophen or any product that contains acetaminophen. Always consult with your physician or pharmacist.

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