(For more on this, see the MayoClinic webpage Acetaminophen and children: Why dose matters.) For children, the amount that is considered an overdose depends on their age and body weight.Consuming more than 4000 mg in a 24-hour period is considered an overdose, while ingesting more than 7000 mg can lead to a severe overdose reaction unless treated promptly. For adults, the typical maximum daily limit for acetaminophen is 4000 milligrams (mg).

If two or more of these medications are taken together, levels of acetaminophen may exceed safe limits.Īcetaminophen preparations come in varying strengths and several different forms, including tablets, capsules and liquid. Often, people do not realize that acetaminophen is one of the ingredients in many combination medications such as cold and flu preparations. When a large dose of acetaminophen is ingested or that exceeds the recommended amount over a period of time, the liver is no longer able to produce enough protective glutathione as a result, the toxic byproduct builds up in the liver and may cause severe liver damage if timely treatment is not given.įor this reason, acetaminophen can be harmful or even fatal if not taken correctly and children in particular are at risk if caregivers do not follow dosing instructions carefully. Fortunately, your liver makes a antioxidant called glutathione that binds to the byproduct and minimizes its toxic effects. However, about 5 to 10% of the absorbed acetaminophen is converted to a toxic, highly-reactive byproduct. Once entering your body, like many other medications, acetaminophen is processed in the liver into harmless substances and removed in your urine. However, it is also the most common cause of toxic hepatitis in North America and Europe and one of the most common poisonings from either accidental or intentional overdose. Acetaminophen is one of the most common pain relievers (analgesics) and fever reducers (antipyretics) available over the counter.

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