Can You Overdose on Tylenol?

Facts About Taking Too Much Acetaminophen

Updated on August 21, 2023

Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD

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.

Boxes of Tylenol — Scott Olson / Getty Images

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:

Pill size	325 mg	500 mg	650 mg (extended-release)
Number of pills per dose	1 to 2	1 to 2	1 to 2
Time between doses	Every 4 to 6 hours	Every 4 to 6 hours	Every 8 hours
Recommended maximum number of pills per day	8	6	4
Never exceed*	12 pills per day or 3,900 mg	8 pills per day or 4,000 mg	6 pills per day or 3,900 mg

*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:

Up to 24 hours: Nausea, vomiting, and sweating are the most common symptoms. Some people will have no symptoms in this stage.
18 to 72 hours: The person may seem to recover, but nausea and vomiting will return along with abdominal pain.
72 to 96 hours: The person's skin and eyes will turn yellow due to jaundice caused by liver failure.

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's

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'ts

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.

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 a medication 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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