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Over the Counter
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Acetaminophens
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 The over the counter
drug, acetaminophen
belongs to a class
of drugs called
analgesics (pain
relievers) and
antipyretics (fever
reducers). Medicine.Net's
explains that the
exact mechanism of
action of
acetaminophen is not
known. Acetaminophen
relieves pain by
elevating the pain
threshold, that is,
by requiring a
greater amount of
pain to develop
before a person
feels it. It reduces
fever through its
action on the
heat-regulating
center of the brain.
Specifically, it
tells the center to
lower the body's
temperature when the
temperature is
elevated. The FDA
approved
acetaminophen in
1951.
Common brand
names include
Tylenol, Asprin-free
Anacin, Panadol and
Bayer Select Maximum
Strength Headache
Pain Relief Formula.
Many people turn to
acetaminophens
because they tend to
not irritate the
stomach like ASAIDs
can. |
FDA Warning
HealthAtoZ.com
reports that
in 2004, the
U.S. Food
and Drug
Administration
(FDA)
launched an
advertising
campaign
aimed at
educating
consumers
about proper
use of
acetaminophen
and other
over-the-counter
pain
killers.
They said
that
acetaminophen
is often
hidden in
many cold
and flu
products and
people
unexpectedly
overdose on
the
medicine.
Some cases
have led to
liver
transplantation
or death.
More than
the
recommended
dosage of
acetaminophen
should not
be taken
unless told
to do so by
a physician
or dentist. |
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