Taking care of yourself when you’re sick is crucial for recovery. However, it can be difficult to know what medication to take, when to take it, and how often to take it. A common medication you may have heard of is acetaminophen, one of the most effective medications to treat cold and flu symptoms. Keep reading to learn more about what acetaminophen is, and safe amounts to take.
Acetaminophen is an over-the-counter medication typically used to treat pain, aches, and reduce fevers. Tylenol is the brand name of acetaminophen, but acetaminophen is also an ingredient in other over-the-counter drugs such as NyQuil Cold, Cough and Flu.
Acetaminophen can help with symptoms and fever from viral infections; however, it won’t treat these infections. If you are experiencing symptoms that are longer than 5-7 days or have symptoms that are not typical for the cold or flu, please seek medical attention for proper treatment.
When taking either non-prescription or prescription medication, please refer to the instruction label and follow the instructions provided.
If you are taking any other medication (prescription or non-prescription), please check if you can take acetaminophen with it before using acetaminophen to treat symptoms.
The maximum amount of acetaminophen you can take every 4 hours is 1000mg (approximately 2 extra-strength pills or 3 regular-strength pills). The maximum recommended daily dosage of acetaminophen for adults and children 12 years or older is 4000mg (approximately 8 extra-strength pills or 12 regular-strength pills). For children under 12 years old, please click here to see Health Canada’s guidelines on maximum recommended daily dosages.
Exceeding the maximum recommended daily dosages may put you at risk of acute liver failure. Symptoms of acute liver failure from acetaminophen overdosing can take multiple hours before appearing.
It is strongly recommended to keep track of how much acetaminophen you take to avoid accidental overdosing of acetaminophen. If you realize that you have exceeded the maximum recommended daily allowance, please seek urgent medical care immediately. Please note that the Student Wellness Centre does not provide urgent care.
If you have questions about acetaminophen, please click here to visit Health Canada’s information page on acetaminophen.
For tips on how to take care of yourself when you’re sick with the cold and flu, please click here.
canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medical-devices/acetaminophen.html
recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/acetaminophen-recommended-treatment-fever-and-pain-during-pregnancy
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482369/#:~:text=Acetaminophen%2C%20also%20known%20as%20N,significant%20component%20of%20their%20presentation
canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/drugs-health-products/let-s-talk-about-acetaminophen.html?utm_source
tylenol.ca/faq#concerned-about-acetaminophen-and-autism