Health Alert: Coalition Urges Awareness of Acetaminophen Safety When Treating Cold and Flu Symptoms This Year
WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 11, 2018 – On the heels of the deadliest flu season in 40 years, the Acetaminophen Awareness Coalition (AAC) is urging consumers to double check their medicine labels when treating cold and flu symptoms to avoid doubling up on acetaminophen. While acetaminophen misuse has continued to decline nationwide, accidental overdoses are still more likely to happen during cold and flu season. Research published earlier this year shows that the odds of consumers taking more than the FDA-recommended maximum dose of 4,000 milligrams (mg) of acetaminophen in one day increased 24 percent during cold and flu season. Primarily, that’s because more people are using over-the-counter (OTC) combination medications to treat upper respiratory cold and flu symptoms.