acetaminophen and guaifenesin

Pronunciation:	a seet a MIN oh fen and gwye FEN a sin
Brand:	Tylenol Chest Congestion

What is the most important information I should know about acetaminophen and guaifenesin?

Do not take more of this medication than is recommended. An overdose of acetaminophen can cause serious harm. The maximum amount of acetaminophen for adults is 1 gram (1000 mg) per dose and 4 grams (4000 mg) per day. Taking more acetaminophen could cause damage to your liver. If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day, talk to your doctor before taking acetaminophen and never take more than 2 grams (2000 mg) per day.

Do not use any other over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, or pain medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Acetaminophen is contained in many cold and pain medicines available over the counter. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much acetaminophen. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains acetaminophen.

Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day or if you have had alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis). You may not be able to take acetaminophen.

What is acetaminophen and guaifenesin?

Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and a fever reducer. It is used to treat many conditions, such as headache, muscle aches, arthritis, backache, toothaches, colds, and fevers.

Guaifenesin is an expectorant. It thins mucous, increases the lubrication of your respiratory tract (lungs, nose and throat), and improves the removal of mucous.

Acetaminophen and guaifenesin are used to treat headache, aches and pains, fever, and chest congestion caused by common cold or flu. It also loosens phlegm (mucus) in your chest to help you breathe more easily.

Acetaminophen and guaifenesin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using acetaminophen and guaifenesin?

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have:

liver disease,
a history of alcoholism,
diabetes,
emphysema or chronic bronchitis.

You may not be able to take acetaminophen and guaifenesin, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Do not use acetaminophen and guaifenesin to treat a cough that is caused by smoking, asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, or other breathing problems.

It is not known whether acetaminophen and guaifenesin will harm an unborn baby. Do not take acetaminophen and guaifenesin without telling your doctor if you are pregnant.

This medication can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not take this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

This medication is not recommended for use in children younger than 12 years old.

How should I take acetaminophen and guaifenesin?

Take acetaminophen and guaifenesin exactly as directed. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you. Do not crush or chew the caplet or dissolve it in water.

Take each dose with a full glass of water. Increasing the amount of water you drink may also help to loosen congestion.

Do not take more of this medication than is recommended. An overdose of this medication can cause serious harm. The maximum amount of acetaminophen for adults is 1 gram (1000 mg) per dose and 4 grams (4000 mg) per day. Taking more acetaminophen could cause damage to your liver. If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day, talk to your doctor before taking acetaminophen and never take more than 2 grams (2000 mg) per day.

Do not take acetaminophen and guaifenesin for longer than 7 days in a row. Stop using the medication and call your doctor if you still have a fever after 3 days of use. Call your doctor if your symptoms get worse, or if you have a skin rash, ongoing headache, any redness or swelling, or any new symptoms.

Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as directed. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention.

The first signs of an acetaminophen and guaifenesin overdose include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, sweating, and confusion or weakness. Later symptoms may include pain in your upper stomach, dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.

What should I avoid while taking acetaminophen and guaifenesin?

Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may cause damage to your liver when it is taken with acetaminophen.

What are the possible side effects of acetaminophen and guaifenesin?

If you experience any of the following rare but serious side effects, stop taking acetaminophen and guaifenesin and seek emergency medical attention:

an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives); or
liver damage (yellowing of the skin or the whites of your eyes, dark urine, nausea, abdominal pain or discomfort, or severe fatigue).

Other, less serious side effects may occur. Talk to your doctor if you have any side effect you think may be caused by acetaminophen and guaifenesin.

If you are over 60 years of age, you may be more likely to experience side effects from acetaminophen and guaifenesin.

What other drugs will affect acetaminophen and guaifenesin?

Do not take any other over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, or pain medicines without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Acetaminophen is contained in many cold and pain medicines available over the counter. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much acetaminophen. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains acetaminophen.

Urine glucose tests may produce false results while you are taking acetaminophen. Talk to your doctor if you are diabetic and you notice changes in your glucose levels during treatment.

There may be other drugs that can interact with acetaminophen and guaifenesin. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist has additional information about acetaminophen and guaifenesin written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Acetaminophen and guaifenesin is available over the counter under the brand name Tylenol Chest Congestion. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2003 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.03. Revision date: 05/30/2007.

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