In a study of over 14,000 Americans, researchers asked adults about their recent use of acetaminophen and found significant numbers exceeding the maximum adult daily dose of 4g (4000 mg), according to research published in the British Journal of Pharmacology.
The study included 14,481 Americans adults who had taken acetaminophen in the previous month. The adults were sampled from multiple online research panels between 2011-16. The researchers asked participants to complete an online daily diary detailing their medication use for the last 7 days. Participants were not told the study was about acetaminophen.
The average age of participants was 44 years old. Sixty-one percent of participants were women and 24 percent were nonwhite.
Here are five study findings.
1. The odds of taking over 4g of acetaminophen in one day increased 24 percent during cold and flu season compared with the off-season, (6.5 percent during cold and flu season compared to 5.3 percent).
2, The overuse of acetaminophen was mainly a result of participants' increased use of over-the-counter combination medications for treating upper respiratory cold and flu symptoms. Participants taking the combination drugs may not have been aware these drugs contain acetaminophen.
3. The researchers found 6.3 percent of acetaminophen users exceeded the maximum dose on at least one day during the week.
4. Participants exceeded the 4-g limit on 3.7 percent of the days they used medications containing acetaminophen.
5. The authors noted overuse of acetaminophen results in an estimated 112,000 calls annually to poison control centers, 59,000 emergency department visits and 38,000 hospitalizations.