Taking part in It Protected: Acetaminophen Protected Use and Males’s Well being Month
Writer: Dr. Julius Johnson
I liked enjoying soccer as a child, and as an grownup I nonetheless get pleasure from spending weekends teaching my neighborhood’s youth soccer crew, the Brooklyn Skyhawks. I additionally get my fair proportion of train by figuring out at residence and enjoying with my daughter within the park. Generally I overdo it, and find yourself with aching muscle mass and joints after an formidable 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. Nevertheless it’s vital to know what substances are within the OTC and prescription medicines you’re taking, for ache and in any other case, and how you can take them safely. The commonest piece of recommendation I give, on and off the sector, is to not overdo it. OTC medicines can have severe well being penalties if not taken as directed.
Ache Reduction and Males’s Well being
The unhappy reality is that males are in loads of ache. In a nationwide survey, 65% of males reported that they expertise ongoing ache, typically for a yr or longer, and lots of of them flip to OTC or prescription medicines for aid. 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 include acetaminophen.
What Is Acetaminophen?
Most individuals don’t know that acetaminophen is the most typical 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 protected and efficient, however taking an excessive amount of is an overdose and might 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
Comply with these 4 steps to make use of acetaminophen safely:
- At all times learn and observe the dosing directions in your label. By no means take extra drugs than directed by the label – that is an overdose, and it could result in liver harm.
- Know in case your medicines include acetaminophen. In case your OTC drugs comprises acetaminophen, it is going to be highlighted in yellow on the label. It might typically be listed as “APAP” or “acetam” on prescription drugs.
- Take just one drugs with acetaminophen at a time. You possibly can take an excessive amount of acetaminophen if you happen to use multiple drugs that comprises acetaminophen on the similar time.
- Ask your healthcare supplier or pharmacist when you have questions about how you can 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 protected. Males’s Well being Month is the proper time to place these protected use steps into apply, and begin calling the performs by yourself well being.
To be taught extra about acetaminophen protected use, go to KnowYourDose.org and observe @KnowYourDose on Twitter.
