Skip to main content Skip to navigation
Menu
800-789-7366

Transplant Update

Safe Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) Doses for Liver Transplant Patients

March 01, 2012

Topics:

Liver Transplant
medicine and a glass of water

Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is the preferred over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication for liver transplant patients to take for general pain, fevers and headaches. However, too much acetaminophen may be harmful. That’s why it is important to know about safe acetaminophen doses, and how much acetaminophen your OTC medications contain.

Because medications may change over time, and new medications continue to become available, it’s recommended you look at all drug packaging and read the ingredients. Knowing how much acetaminophen is in a medication and following the label instructions are the first steps in medication safety.

Also, if the labels or packaging information is confusing or difficult to understand, ask a pharmacist to help you learn the safe medication dosage. Acetaminophen may be abbreviated as APAP (especially on prescription drug labels) so look for this as well.

It is important that you do not take more than one product containing acetaminophen at a time to avoid overdosing.

The maximum amount of acetaminophen that you can take in one day (24 hours) is 2,000 mg.

Learn the acetaminophen dosage

Learn how much acetaminophen you are taking by adding up the amount in each tablet or caplet.

If a tablet contains 325 mg of acetaminophen and you take two tablets/three times a day:

2 tablets x 325 mg = 650 mg per dose

650 mg x 3 doses = 1950 mg

OTC Medications and Acetaminophen Content

Product                    Amount of Acetaminophen                                 Maximum tablets/caplets per day                
Regular-strength Tylenol® 325 mg in each tablet/caplet 6 tablets/caplets
Extra-strength Tylenol 500 mg in each tablet/caplet 4 tablets/caplets
Tylenol Arthritis Pain, Tylenol 8-Hour Extended Release 650 mg in each tablet/caplet 3 tablets/caplets
Tylenol Sinus Congestion & Pain 325 mg in each caplet 6 caplets
Tylenol Sinus Severe Congestion Daytime 325 mg in each caplet 6 caplets
Tylenol Allergy Multi-symptom 325 mg in each gelcap/caplet 6 gelcaps/caplets
Tylenol Severe Allergy 500 mg in each caplet 4 caplets
Tylenol Cold Multi-symptom Severe 325mg in each tablespoon 6 tablespoons
Tylenol Cold Multi-symptom Daytime/Nighttime (liquid) 325 mg in each tablespoon 6 tablespoons
Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Daytime/Nighttime (gelcaps) 325 mg in each gelcap 6 gelcaps
Tylenol Cold & Flu Severe (liquid) 325 mg in 1 tablespoon 6 tablespoons
Tylenol Cold & Flu Severe (gelcaps) 325 mg in each gelcap 6 gelcaps
Excedrin® Migraine, Excedrin Extra Strength, Excedrin Menstrual Complete 250 mg in each tablet 8 tablets
Excedrin Sinus Headache 325 mg in each tablet 6 tablets
Excedrin PM, Excedrin Tension Headache 500 mg in each tablet 4 tablets
Midol® Complete, Midol PM 500 mg in each tablet 4 tablets
Sudafed® PE products, Sinus Headache PE 325 mg in each tablet 6 tablets
Vicks Nyquil® Products 325 mg in each tablet/tablespoon 6 tablets/tablespoons
Vicks Dayquil® Products 325 mg in each tablet 6 tablets
Non-Drowsy Cough & Cold PE 325 mg in each tablet 6 tablets
Theraflu® Cold & Cough 1 packet = 650 mg 3 packets
Theraflu Flu & Chest Congestion 1 packet = 1000 mg 2 packets
Theraflu Flu & Sore Throat 1 packet = 650mg 3 packets

About this Blog

The Penn Medicine Transplant blog features short postings with news about the transplant program at Penn Medicine, notices about upcoming events and health information.

Date Archives

GO

Author Archives

GO