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Taking part in It Protected: Acetaminophen Protected Use and Males’s Well being Month
Writer: Dr. Julius Johnson
I cherished 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 house and taking part in with my daughter within the park. Typically I overdo it, and find yourself with aching muscle mass and joints after an bold exercise.
Like many individuals, one of many first treatments 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. However it’s necessary to know what elements are within the OTC and prescription medicines you’re taking, for ache and in any other case, and learn how to take them safely. The most typical 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 Aid and Males’s Well being
The unhappy fact is that males are in plenty of ache. In a nationwide survey, 65% of males reported that they expertise ongoing ache, typically for a 12 months or longer, and lots of of them flip to OTC or prescription medicines for reduction. 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 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 secure and efficient, however taking an excessive amount of is an overdose and might result in liver injury.
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.
Ideas for Utilizing Acetaminophen Safely
Observe these 4 steps to make use of acetaminophen safely:
At all times learn and comply with the dosing directions in your label. By no means take extra medication than directed by the label – that is an overdose, and it might probably result in liver injury.
Know in case your medicines comprise acetaminophen. In case your OTC medication comprises acetaminophen, it is going to be highlighted in yellow on the label. It might generally be listed as “APAP” or “acetam” on prescription drugs.
Take just one medication with acetaminophen at a time. You possibly can take an excessive amount of acetaminophen if you happen to use multiple medication that comprises acetaminophen on the identical time.
Ask your healthcare supplier or pharmacist when you’ve got questions about learn how 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 selections 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 comply with @KnowYourDose on Twitter.
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