Taking part in It Protected: Acetaminophen Protected Use and Males’s Well being Month

Creator: Dr. Julius Johnson

I beloved enjoying soccer as a child, and as an grownup I nonetheless take pleasure in spending weekends teaching my neighborhood’s youth soccer workforce, the Brooklyn Skyhawks. I additionally get my fair proportion of train by understanding at house and enjoying with my daughter within the park. Generally I overdo it, and find yourself with aching muscle mass and joints after an bold exercise.

Like many individuals, one of many first cures I attain for is a chilly pack and an over-the-counter (OTC) ache reliever. It’s what I inform my sufferers to do – and more often than not, it does the trick. However it’s vital to know what elements are within the OTC and prescription medicines you’re taking, for ache and in any other case, and tips on how to take them safely. The most typical piece of recommendation I give, on and off the sphere, is to not overdo it. OTC medicines can have critical well being penalties if not taken as directed.

Ache Aid and Males’s Well being

The unhappy fact is that males are in lots of ache. In a nationwide survey, 65% of males reported that they expertise ongoing ache, typically for a 12 months or longer, and plenty of of them flip to OTC or prescription medicines for reduction. Throughout Males’s Well being Month, the Acetaminophen Consciousness Coalition is urging males to take cost of their well being and  take their medicines safely – particularly if these medicines comprise acetaminophen.

What Is Acetaminophen?

Most individuals don’t know that acetaminophen is the commonest drug ingredient in America, discovered in additional than 600 over-the-counter and prescription medicines – together with many commonly-used ache relievers, cough, chilly, and allergy medicines, sleep aids, and fever reducers. When used as directed, it’s secure and efficient, however taking an excessive amount of is an overdose and may result in liver harm.

The U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) has set a most each day dose of 4,000 milligrams (mg) of acetaminophen in a 24-hour interval.

Suggestions for Utilizing Acetaminophen Safely

Observe these 4 steps to make use of acetaminophen safely:

1. At all times learn and comply with the dosing directions in your label. By no means take extra drugs than directed by the label – that is an overdose, and it will probably result in liver harm.
2. Know in case your medicines comprise acetaminophen. In case your OTC drugs comprises acetaminophen, it is going to be highlighted in yellow on the label. It could typically be listed as “APAP” or “acetam” on prescription drugs.
3. Take just one drugs with acetaminophen at a time. You may take an excessive amount of acetaminophen if you happen to use multiple drugs that comprises acetaminophen on the identical time.
4. Ask your healthcare supplier or pharmacist when you have questions about tips on how to take your medicines safely.

The Endgame

In my twin roles as a household nurse practitioner and a coach, I attempt to information males to make choices that preserve them wholesome and secure. Males’s Well being Month is the right time to place these secure use steps into follow, and begin calling the performs by yourself well being.

To be taught extra about acetaminophen secure use, go to KnowYourDose.org and comply with @KnowYourDose on Twitter.