Always Check Medicine Labels for Active Ingredients

Many people turn to over-the-counter (OTC or nonprescription) medicines to treat their cold, flu, COVID-19, or pain symptoms. OTC products can be bought without a prescription at local convenience stores, pharmacies, supermarkets, and online. However, having so many options available can often lead to confusion when it comes to choosing the right product for symptom relief.

“It’s essential to recognize that while over-the-counter medicines are widely available and commonly used, there can be a false sense of safety regarding the risk of dangerous adverse effects, including the potential for overdose,” said Bruce Ruck, managing director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. People of all ages are at risk of serious health effects from taking too much medicine, especially children and older adults.

Two commonly used active ingredients found in many prescription and over-the-counter medicines, namely acetaminophen (found in Tylenol) and ibuprofen (found in Advil), are frequently used to treat winter illness symptoms and pain. When used according to the directions on the label, and not more than the maximum daily dose, these medicines are safe and effective.

However, it's important to note that taking too much of either of these medicines, either alone or in combination with other medicines, can result in unexpected harmful effects, including organ failure and death. According to the FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Association), acetaminophen is found in over 600 OTC and prescription medicines.

“It can be easy to give or take more acetaminophen or ibuprofen than intended, especially when using over-the-counter multi-symptom cold and flu medicines,” said Ruck. “Be careful when using more than one medicine to treat symptoms.” Most people are unaware that many multi-symptom products use acetaminophen or ibuprofen as one of their active ingredients.

The medical providers at the New Jersey Poison Control Center can help callers of all ages understand which medicines would best to help their symptoms or provide medical treatment advice if someone consumed too much medicine.

Safety tips to avoid an accidental overdose with cold and flu medicines:

• Always check the active ingredients when taking more than one medicine for symptoms. This will prevent to prevent doubling up on active ingredients.
• Never take more than the recommended maximum daily dose.
• Only use products that treat the symptoms you currently have.
• Avoid drinking alcohol while taking prescription or OTC medicines.
• Only use a dosing tool such as a medicine spoon, dropper, syringe, or cup when measuring liquid medicine. Do not use a kitchen soup spoon to measure medicine because the dose will not be accurate.
• Children should only be given medicine specifically formulated for them and never more than the maximum daily dose. Never give children medicine that is made for adults.
• Infants and young children must only be given medicine according to their weight, not their age.
• If you have questions about dosing, active ingredients, warnings, and potentially dangerous interaction, call the New Jersey Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 (Poison Help line).

If you think someone consumed too much acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or other medicine, contact the New Jersey Poison Control Center immediately for medical treatment advice. Anyone can call for help – children, teens, and adults. Poison control centers are a medical resource for both the public and healthcare professionals.

Get help 24/7 — Call 1-800-222-1222 or Chat Here. If someone is not breathing, hard to wake up, or having a seizure, call 9-1-1.

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Media contacts only: Alicia Gambino ([email protected]), New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School