<p style="line-height: 115%;">The Acetaminophen Awareness Coalition (AAC)—a diverse group of leading health, healthcare provider and consumer organizations, including the <a href="http://www.nacdsfoundation.org/">NACDS Foundation</a>—released a <a href="http://www.knowyourdose.org/report">report</a> last week, “Acetaminophen: How It's Used, Preventing Overdose and What We Can Do to Promote Safe Use.” The report is designed as an educational resource to drive safe and appropriate use of America’s most common drug ingredient. <span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></p>
<p style="line-height: 115%;">The coalition’s report reviews the dosing behaviors that can lead to acetaminophen overdose and explores the successful impact of ongoing education campaigns to drive appropriate use and prevent overdose-related liver damage.</p>
<p style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The AAC reports that each week, more than 50 million Americans use a medicine that contains acetaminophen—found in more than 600 different over-the-counter and prescription medicines including pain relievers, fever reducers, sleep aids and numerous cough, cold and flu medicines.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The group works to raise awareness that acetaminophen is safe and effective when used as directed, but there is a limit to how much can be taken in one day: 4,000 milligrams (mg). They note that taking more acetaminophen than directed and exceeding the maximum daily dose of 4,000 mg is considered an overdose and can lead to severe liver damage. </span></p>
