Acetaminophen Uses

Acetaminophen is an antipyretic and analgesic. It is used for fever and pain such as menstrual pain, backache, muscle aches, headache, dental pain, pain from a common cold or flu, and minor pain from arthritis.

There may be other uses of acetaminophen—your doctor or pharmacist can give you further drug information.

Acetaminophen Mechanism of Action

Acetaminophen prevents the synthesis of prostaglandins in the body. Prostaglandins are natural substances that cause fever and pain.

Acetaminophen Doses

Acetaminophen is available in many dosage forms. The dose of acetaminophen depends on your age, the condition you are treating, and the formulation of the medicine you are using (tablets, extended-release tablets, capsules, liquid, powder, or suppositories). 

In adults, the usual dose of acetaminophen is 650 mg by mouth every 4-6 hours as needed. The maximum daily dose of acetaminophen in adults is 3,000 to 4,000 mg per day. Check the package label for the correct dose. Some tablets contain 325 mg of acetaminophen, while others contain 500 mg or 650 mg.

In children, the dose of acetaminophen depends on the child’s weight. Children may be given acetaminophen chewable tablets or liquid. Before giving a child acetaminophen, you should check how much of the medicine is in the tablet or liquid, for example, 80 mg tablet or 160 mg/5 mL liquid. Children over the age of 12 years can usually take the adult dose, but it’s best to check with the child’s healthcare provider.