Tylenol Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Side Effects

Acetaminophen has side effects, but most people don’t experience them. Most people tolerate this drug well. In rare cases, people have had allergic reactions to it. The most concerning side effect, though, is severe liver damage. It usually only happens when you overuse acetaminophen.

Allergic reaction

In very rare cases, some people have had allergic reactions to acetaminophen. Call your doctor immediately if you develop the following reactions after taking acetaminophen:

• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• swelling of your face, lips, throat, or tongue
• hives
• severe itching
• peeling or blistering skin

Severe liver damage

Acetaminophen poisoning can happen from taking too much acetaminophen. Your liver processes acetaminophen and converts it into a different substance. If you take large amounts of acetaminophen, your liver produces more of that substance. And when there is too much of it, that substance can damage your liver. However, if you take acetaminophen at the recommended dosage, liver damage from the drug is not likely.
Symptoms of liver damage include:

• yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
• pain in the upper right area of your abdomen
• nausea or vomiting
• loss of appetite
• fatigue
• sweating more than usual
• pale skin
• unusual bruising or bleeding
• dark or tea-colored urine
• dark, tarry stools

If you suspect you’ve taken too much acetaminophen or notice any of these symptoms, contact your poison control center or get medical help right away. If you know you’ve taken more than the recommended dosage of acetaminophen, go to the nearest emergency room, even if you don’t have any symptoms of liver damage. If someone you know who has taken acetaminophen becomes unresponsive or stops breathing, call 9-1-1 or the number for your local emergency services.

Generic Name: acetaminophen (oral) (a SEET a MIN oh fen)
Brand Names: Actamin, Anacin AF, Apra, Bromo Seltzer, Children's Tylenol, Elixsure Fever/Pain, Mapap, Medi-Tabs, Q-Pap, Silapap Childrens, Tactinal, Tempra Quicklets, Tycolene, Tylenol, Vitapap