It is possible to overdose on Tylenol (acetaminophen). Taking large doses of acetaminophen can lead to liver and kidney damage.In some cases, it can even be fatal.
Make sure you never take more than a total of 4,000 mg of acetaminophen in a 24-hour period. You should also be aware of any other medication you take that may also contain acetaminophen.
This article discusses Tylenol overdose, its symptoms, and how to avoid taking too much Tylenol.
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How Much Tylenol Can You Take in a Day?
Healthy adults weighing at least 150 pounds should not take more than 4,000 mg of Tylenol in a 24-hour period. Never take more than two pills at one time. Specific dose limitations are as follows:
*Avoid taking the maximum daily amount of Tylenol regularly. The manufacturer recommends taking no more than 3,000 mg whenever possible, since some people may experience liver damage even at the 4,000 mg daily maximum.
Symptoms of a Tylenol Overdose
Early symptoms of Tylenol overdose can be vague and may resemble other conditions. Symptoms tend to progress over a 96-hour period:
Tylenol Overdose or Poisoning
How to Avoid Accidental Overdose
When you’re in the middle of experiencing pain from a headache or a migraine, your thinking isn’t always clear. That makes it much easier to accidentally overdose on pain relievers.
It is also possible to overdose when you take Tylenol along with a cold medication or other product that contains acetaminophen.
If you have a liver condition, you weigh less than 150 pounds, or you regularly consume alcohol, the daily maximum of 4,000 mg may be too much. Speak with your healthcare provider to determine the right dose for you.
Here are some dos and don’ts for avoiding an accidental overdose.
Do’sAsk someone to keep track of what medications you take at what time to be sure you’re not getting more than the recommended dosage.Consider putting the maximum amount you can take in a day in a separate pill bottle to avoid taking more than you should.Keep a notepad next to your medications and jot down the times you take a dose, what you take, and how much.Don’tsDon’t forget to count acetaminophen from other potential sources (for example, common opioids and OTC cold and flu products) when calculating your total daily dose.Don’t take more if the maximum dosage of medication doesn’t give you relief. Contact your healthcare provider or go to the emergency room.
Do’sAsk someone to keep track of what medications you take at what time to be sure you’re not getting more than the recommended dosage.Consider putting the maximum amount you can take in a day in a separate pill bottle to avoid taking more than you should.Keep a notepad next to your medications and jot down the times you take a dose, what you take, and how much.
Ask someone to keep track of what medications you take at what time to be sure you’re not getting more than the recommended dosage.
Consider putting the maximum amount you can take in a day in a separate pill bottle to avoid taking more than you should.
Keep a notepad next to your medications and jot down the times you take a dose, what you take, and how much.
Don’tsDon’t forget to count acetaminophen from other potential sources (for example, common opioids and OTC cold and flu products) when calculating your total daily dose.Don’t take more if the maximum dosage of medication doesn’t give you relief. Contact your healthcare provider or go to the emergency room.
Don’t forget to count acetaminophen from other potential sources (for example, common opioids and OTC cold and flu products) when calculating your total daily dose.
Don’t take more if the maximum dosage of medication doesn’t give you relief. Contact your healthcare provider or go to the emergency room.
Can You Take Tylenol With an Aspirin or Aleve?
Alternatives to Tylenol
While taking Tylenol for a headache is a reasonable approach, you may want to consider a non-medication therapy first. For instance, if you are sleep-deprived or hungry, taking a nap or eating a nutritious snack may soothe your headache.
If you find that you are taking Tylenol or another medication frequently, be aware that you may be at risk for developing amedication overuse headache. This is a rebound headache that forms as a result of taking headache medication too often. Too much acetaminophen may mean you are taking it more than 10 to 15 days per month, depending on the specific drug.
Summary
If you take too much Tylenol (acetaminophen), you could experience liver or kidney damage. Overdosing on acetaminophen can even lead to death.
To avoid overdose, never take more than 4,000 mg of Tylenol within 24 hours.But if you have liver disease or you regularly consume alcohol, even that may be too much. Check with your healthcare provider to make sure you are taking the right amount if you have either of these medical issues.
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2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yoon E, Babar A, Choudhary M, Kutner M, Pyrsopoulos N.Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity: a comprehensive update.J Clin Transl Hepatol. 2016;4(2). doi:10.14218/JCTH.2015.00052Civan JM, Navarro V, Herrine SK, Riggio JM, Adams P, Rossi S.Patterns of acetaminophen use exceeding 4 grams daily in a hospitalized population at a tertiary care center.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2014;10(1):27-34.Additional ReadingSivilotti MLA, Yarema MC, Juurlink DN.Treating acetaminophen overdose. CMAJ. 2022;194(15):E554. doi:10.1503/cmaj.210703
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yoon E, Babar A, Choudhary M, Kutner M, Pyrsopoulos N.Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity: a comprehensive update.J Clin Transl Hepatol. 2016;4(2). doi:10.14218/JCTH.2015.00052Civan JM, Navarro V, Herrine SK, Riggio JM, Adams P, Rossi S.Patterns of acetaminophen use exceeding 4 grams daily in a hospitalized population at a tertiary care center.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2014;10(1):27-34.Additional ReadingSivilotti MLA, Yarema MC, Juurlink DN.Treating acetaminophen overdose. CMAJ. 2022;194(15):E554. doi:10.1503/cmaj.210703
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Yoon E, Babar A, Choudhary M, Kutner M, Pyrsopoulos N.Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity: a comprehensive update.J Clin Transl Hepatol. 2016;4(2). doi:10.14218/JCTH.2015.00052Civan JM, Navarro V, Herrine SK, Riggio JM, Adams P, Rossi S.Patterns of acetaminophen use exceeding 4 grams daily in a hospitalized population at a tertiary care center.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2014;10(1):27-34.
Yoon E, Babar A, Choudhary M, Kutner M, Pyrsopoulos N.Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity: a comprehensive update.J Clin Transl Hepatol. 2016;4(2). doi:10.14218/JCTH.2015.00052
Civan JM, Navarro V, Herrine SK, Riggio JM, Adams P, Rossi S.Patterns of acetaminophen use exceeding 4 grams daily in a hospitalized population at a tertiary care center.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2014;10(1):27-34.
Sivilotti MLA, Yarema MC, Juurlink DN.Treating acetaminophen overdose. CMAJ. 2022;194(15):E554. doi:10.1503/cmaj.210703
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