Tylenol Overdose in Children information
Tylenol (acetaminophen) is a popular pain reliever and fever reducer. It is available in a variety of formulas for infants, children and adults. Some Tylenol products contain cold and cough medications along with acetaminophen. Acetaminophen is considered a fairly safe medication for children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, but misusing it can cause serious health problems or death.
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Proper Dosage
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Always follow directions on your package of Tylenol. Never assume that more is better; taking too much Tylenol is dangerous. If the package does not have dosage information for your child's age or weight group, do not try to guess the proper dosage. Ask your doctor for instructions, or choose a formula with dosage information for your child. Do not give a child an adult form of Tylenol. When using liquid Tylenol, use the enclosed measuring device instead of a regular spoon.
Preventing Overdose
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Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using other medications with Tylenol. Check labels to make sure you do not mix two products containing acetaminophen. For instance, giving your child a cold medication containing acetaminophen along with regular Tylenol could result in an overdose. Do not assume that infant drops are less potent than Tylenol products for older children. Infant drops are more concentrated than other forms of Tylenol, and overdose can happen much more easily.
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Overdose Effects
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A Tylenol overdose can cause potentially fatal liver problems. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, acetaminophen overdose may initially cause loss of appetite, excessive sweating, nausea and vomiting. After these symptoms improve, a child may experience pain in the upper right portion of the abdomen as the liver becomes enlarged. Three to five days after the overdose, the initial symptoms may reappear along with symptoms of liver failure.
Overdose Treatment
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Treatment should begin promptly after a Tylenol overdose. Emergency workers can administer a charcoal liquid to a child to keep the body from absorbing some of the acetaminophen. N-acetylcysteine, the antidote for acetaminophen, may need to be used in some cases. Prompt treatment is important, because the antidote should be administered within eight to ten hours of the overdose, according to Mayo Clinic.
Warning
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If you suspect your child has ingested too much Tylenol, do not wait for symptoms to appear. Liver failure can occur several days after the overdose, and prompt treatment is necessary to prevent this potentially fatal complication. Get emergency medical treatment or call poison control at 1-800-222-1222.
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Comments
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Ryan Piercey
Dec 26, 2010
im a 14 year old girl, and im babysitting when a headache occured. i couldnt find adult tylenol so i took 2 and a half tea spoons of childrens tylenol. then i found the tylenol tablets about 2 minutes after, and since the childrens tylenol didnt kick in yet i assumed that it wouldnt work for me. so i took ONE of the tylenol tablets. not the circled red ones, the longish white ones, only these had a yellow bottom on them. white on one side, yellow on the other. a few minutes after my headache got wayyyyyyy worse then what it was, and now its just killer. so i searched up symtoms of overdose on tylenol, and i have loss of appetite and im sweating ALOT. i dont feel nauseas and i havent vomited yet. i was wondering if i did overdose on tylenol, and to expect the other two symtoms later on?
