When you next time start taking a dose of paracetamol, don’t forget to remember the warning attached to this innocuous looking medicine as it can prove to be fatal in the long run. The United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has warned that an accidental overdose of paracetamol may be dangerous and cause potential liver damage. Paracetamol has been in use as an analgesic for home medication for over 30 years and is accepted as a very effective treatment for the relief of pain and fever in adults and children.

The medicine is safe as long as used within the prescribed dose, but an accidental overdose may be dangerous and cause potential liver damage. It has been highlighted by a USFDA committee which is also in favour of stricter ‘black box’ warnings on labels of paracetamol combinations. The panel has said that consumers should restrict use of the drug, and asked for lowering the maximum recommended dose from the existing 4 gm in a day.

But, doctors say that the medicine if taken in the prescribed dose is the safest analgesic and fever-lowering medication. But in some countries, especially the Western countries, ‘paracetamol poisoning’ is happening with the drug being abused, sometimes even intentionally. The drug has been under review as cases of acetaminophen-related liver injury are going up in the US.

The risk accentuates if there is a combination of paracetamol with codeine, found in cough and cold medications.

The moral of the story is that stop using paracetamol as a self-medication drug and take the advice of doctors before using it.