The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emphasizes the importance of knowing exactly how much acetaminophen we’re taking. Tylenol isn’t the only place the active ingredient is hiding. Rather, it can be found in over 600 different drugs (via FDA), including other popular OTC cold and flu relief medicines like NyQuil or Dayquil, reports MedlinePlus. It can also be found in certain prescription pain-relief medications, such as percocet, codeine, and hydrocodone.
The maximum daily dose of acetaminophen is 4,000 mg for adults. Taking more than this amount can put one at risk for serious liver damage, overdose, or death. Acetaminophen isn’t always easily identifiable on drug labels, however, so it’s important to know that it may alternatively be listed as APAP, AC, Acetam, Acetamin, Acetamino, Acetaminoph, N-acetyl-para-aminophenol, or paracetamol. If you see any of these names listed on a drug label, keep track of how much acetaminophen you’re taking and check with your pharmacist or doctor before taking Tylenol.
