acetaminophen

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acetaminophen

acetaminophen , an analgesic and fever-reducing medicine similar in effect to aspirin . It is an active ingredient in many over-the-counter medicines, including Tylenol and Midol. Introduced in the early 1900s, acetaminophen is a coal tar derivative that acts by interfering with the synthesis of prostaglandins and other substances necessary for the transmission of pain impulses. Although its action is similar to that of aspirin, it lacks aspirin's anti-inflammatory and blood-thinning effects, is less irritating to the stomach, and can be used by people who are allergic to aspirin. Heavy use, however, has been linked to an increased incidence of liver failure, especially in heavy drinkers of alcoholic beverages and in those who are not eating enough, and overdose, especially in children, can be fatal.

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acetaminophen

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | © The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2009, originally published by Oxford University Press 2009. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

a·ce·ta·min·o·phen / əˌsētəˈminəfən/ • n. an analgesic drug, C₈H₉NO₂, used to treat headaches, arthritis, etc., and also to reduce fever.

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	Protect children from acetaminophen overdoses. Newspaper article from: Pediatrics for Parents; 11/1/2003
	Accidental acetaminophen overdoses. (adapted from the Medical Tribune, June 1995) Newspaper article from: Pediatrics for Parents; 2/1/1995
	A single dose of ibuprofen or acetaminophen: which is most effective? Newspaper article from: Pediatrics for Parents; 9/1/2004

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