Milllions of Americans take O-T-C pain relievers every day, but experts say you need to be careful. 

�Sometimes I get pain in my calf muscles and then I�ll take a Tylenol(R) before I go to bed.�

Americans have long used over-the-counter pain medications, such as acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol(R), for relief of minor aches and pains.  But experts caution that overuse of pain relievers can be dangerous.  Doctor James Lewis of Georgetown University Hospital:

�Research shows acetaminophen overdose is a leading cause of acute liver failure in the U.S., accounting for many deaths each year.�

Experts are particularly concerned that people may unknowingly take too much acetaminophen, the most common pain relieving ingredient used in many medications:

�People using over-the-counter medications should always read the labels carefully for dosing limits and warnings about side effects.�

If you have any questions about the use of any pain medications, speak with a pharmacist of healthcare provider.

CLICK HERE to download a transcript of this story:
https://www.cpwire.com/click.asp?feature=https://216.86.33.66/aceta.doc

CLICK HERE to download a multimedia (MP3) file of this story:
https://www.cpwire.com/click.asp?feature=https://216.86.33.66/aceta.mp3