Acetaminophen Protected Use and Males’s Well being Month – Speaking About Males’s Well being

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

Creator: Dr. Julius Johnson

I liked taking part in soccer as a child, and as an grownup I nonetheless take pleasure in 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 taking part in with my daughter within the park. Typically I overdo it, and find yourself with aching muscle tissues 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 necessary to know what substances are within the OTC and prescription medicines you are taking, for ache and in any other case, and the way to take them safely. The commonest 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 Reduction and Males’s Well being

The unhappy fact is that males are in a number 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 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 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 might result in liver harm.

The U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) has set a most day by 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. All the time 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.
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’ll be able to take an excessive amount of acetaminophen in the event you use multiple drugs that comprises acetaminophen on the similar time.
4. Ask your healthcare supplier or pharmacist if in case you have questions about the way 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 hold them wholesome and secure. Males’s Well being Month is the right time to place these secure use steps into apply, and begin calling the performs by yourself well being.

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