Definition

1. Noun:
   • A common over-the-counter medication used to relieve pain and reduce fever: Acetaminophen is a drug that acts as an analgesic (pain reliever) and antipyretic (fever reducer). It is not effective against inflammation.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • For a headache, you can take acetaminophen.
  • The doctor recommended acetaminophen to lower the child's fever.
  • Check the label, as many cold medicines contain acetaminophen.

Advanced Usage

• "Acetaminophen overdose": Refers to taking a dangerously high amount of the drug, which can cause severe liver damage.
  • Hospital admissions for acetaminophen overdose are a serious concern.

Variants and Related Words

• Paracetamol (n): The international non-proprietary name (INN) for acetaminophen, commonly used outside North America.
  • In the UK, this medication is called paracetamol.

Synonyms

• Analgesic: A substance that relieves pain.
• Antipyretic: A substance that reduces fever.
• Pain reliever: A general term for medications that alleviate pain.

Important Notes (Not Idioms or Phrasal Verbs)

• Acetaminophen is an active ingredient in many branded products (e.g., Tylenol, Panadol). It is critical to avoid taking multiple medicines that contain acetaminophen simultaneously to prevent accidental overdose.
• Unlike nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, acetaminophen does not reduce inflammation.

Noun

1. an analgesic for mild pain but not for inflammation; also used as an antipyretic; (Datril, Tylenol, Panadol, Phenaphen, Tempra, and Anacin III are trademarks of brands of acetaminophen tablets)