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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Drugs

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Using Acetaminophen and Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Safely

 

The Food and Drug Administration advises consumers to follow directions when using common pain and fever reducers. The active ingredients, acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are safe and effective when the labeling directions or the advice from a healthcare professional is followed. Using more than recommended can cause serious injury.

The national education campaign provides advice on the safe use of over-the-counter (OTC) pain relief products.

These resources are intended for use by educators, health care professionals, and consumers. Most materials are available in PDF format for immediate downloading or printing. Some materials may be available in print to order at no cost. Send requests for printed materials to ocommpubs@fda.hhs.gov or call 1-888-INFO-FDA.
 

 Articles

The following are articles on the safe use of over-the-counter and prescription pain relievers. 

 

 Print Public Service Announcements
 

Too much acetaminophen can destroy your liverHow can a pain reliever lead to serious liver damage

Too much acetaminophen can destroy your liver
(Sizes: 8.5x11 and 16x20; 4-color; English)
PDF - 175KB (low resolution) or PDF - 1MB (high resolution)

A Print Public Service Announcement explaining the dangers of taking more acetaminophen than directed and how to use it safely. 

How can a pain reliever lead to serious liver damage? 
(Sizes: 8.5x11 and 16x20; 4-color; English)
PDF - 157KB (low resolution) or PDF - 832KB (high resolution) 

A Print Public Service Announcement explaining the dangers of taking more acetaminophen than directed and how to use it safely.


OTC_why_thumbOTC_seriously_thumb
(Acetaminophen PSA): Why is it important to know that all these medicines contain acetaminophen?
HTML or PDF - 44KB (low resolution] or PDF - 8MB (high resolution)		(NSAIDs PSA): The best way to take your over-the-counter pain reliever? Seriously.
HTML or PDF -63KB (low resolution) or PDF - 3MB (high resolution)

 

 Fact Sheets
 

Careful: Acetaminophen in pain relief medicines can cause liver damageParent Fact Sheet thumbnail of medicine record table   

Careful: Acetaminophen in pain relief medicines can cause liver damage 
(Size: 8.5x11; horizontal fold; 4-color; English)
HTML or PDF - 183KB (low resolution) or PDF - 4MB (high resolution)

This fact sheet explains what acetaminophen is and how to use it safely. The fact sheet also discusses the dangers of giving more acetaminophen than directed.

Parents: Acetaminophen in pain relief medicines can cause liver damage 
(Size: 8.5x11; horizontal fold; 4-color; English)
HTML or PDF - 240KB (low resolution) or PDF - 4MB (high resolution)

This fact sheet for parents explains what acetaminophen is and how to use it safely. The fact sheet also discusses the dangers of giving more acetaminophen than directed.

Daily Medicine Record for Your Child 

(Size: 8.5x11; English)
HTML or PDF - 97KB

This daily medicine record helps you track the medicines your child gets each day so you or someone else caring for your child won't accidentally give too much.

 

 Brochures

OTC_seriously_broch_thumb

The best way to take your over-the-counter pain reliever? Seriously.

(Four-panel brochure in English and Spanish)

 

En Español

¿Cuál Es La Mejor Manera de Tomar Su Medicina Comprada Sin Receta Médica? Con Seriedad.

 

 Point of Sale Message 

A medicine you bought contains acetaminophen (PDF - 602KB)
Sizes: 2-7/8x4.25 and 4.25x2-7/8; 4-color and black and white; English

This Point-of-Sale message explains how to take acetaminophen safely. It is given to consumers when purchasing a medicine containing acetaminophen.

 

 

Video Public Service Announcements


 

Audio Public Service Announcements
 

TitleRun TimeFile SizeTranscript
Acetaminophen - broadcast announcement 00:00:427 KBPDF
00:00:376 KBPDF
"Acetaminophen – Read the Label"00:00:20316 KBPDF
"Acetaminophen – Read the Label"00:00:30460 KBPDF


 

Internet Public Service Announcement Banners
(Sizes vary; 4-color; English; can be used on websites and linked to the pertinent "Consumer Education" Web page. Other sizes may be available upon request.)

120x240_thumbacetaminophen2

Acetaminophen - Too much of this pain reliever can damage your liver. Read the label.

  • Right-click image to save

FDA suggests that the banner graphic link to the www.fda.gov/acetaminophen Web page.

Knock out pain, not your liver.

  • Right-click image to save

FDA suggests that the banner graphic link to the www.fda.gov/acetaminophen Web page.

 

 Widgets

To add a widget to your website, simply copy the code located below the widget(s) of your choice and paste it into your HTML code, positioning it wherever you like on your Web page. No further maintenance of a widget's contents is needed, as the code will deliver the widget from www.fda.gov to your website and update it automatically.

Acetaminophen Information for Professionals


<iframe src="http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/widgets/acetaminophen_professionals.html" width="200px" height="310px" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" title="Acetaminophen Information for Professionals Widget"></iframe> 


Acetaminophen Information for Consumers


<iframe src="http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/widgets/acetaminophen_consumers.html" width="200px" height="310px" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" title="Acetaminophen Information for Consumers Widget"></iframe>
 


Tutorials

English and Spanish consumer education tutorials from the National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus website:

 

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