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To our pain-addled brains (we're talking about headaches, "computer hunch" back pain, those fun things...), the recommended dose for Tylenol often means: as many pills as it takes. But Tylenol gets that people are popping their pills like jellybeans. We aren't paying much attention to how those pills are interacting with our other "medicine," like cough syrup, prescription pain killers or big glasses of pinot noir. That's why the company released new dosage instructions last week for Extra Strength Tylenol as part of a media campaign to help us understand that too much acetaminophen can can cause serious liver damage.

Instead of 8 Extra Strength Tylenol pills per day (4,000 mg), they're now recommending a daily cap of 6 pills (3,000 mg); instead of 2 pills every 4-6 hours, it's now 2 pills every 6 hours, period.

You should start noticing these new dosage instructions on Extra Strength Tylenol bottles this fall...just as you're reaching for something to help you deal with seasonal allergies, cold-weather sniffles, and back-to-school arguments. (A change in dosage instructions for regular Tylenol is scheduled for early next year).

Another option is to use the change in dosage instructions (and your newly-stirred fears of overdose-induced liver damage) to explore alternative forms of pain relief. For example, those who suffer from tension headaches might want to give acupuncture a try. Participants in one study found that six to 15 acupuncture treatments helped reduce their number of headache days by fifty percent. 

Keep reading:
Alternative Pain Treatments
Take Control of Your Pain
Doctor-Recommended Techniques for Easing Your Pain
Dealing with Chronic Pain