Joint Pain Medication – Acetaminophen and Side Effects

Acetaminophen is a relatively widely prescribe drug for joint pain and is considered safe when used accordingly to your Doctor’s or label directions. However, in my experience Acetaminophen has done very little to alleviate joint pain associated with aching knees, ankles or hips.

Acetaminophen is an analgesic medication as opposed to a narcotic and is prescribed for relief of pain and reduction of fevers, and commonly prescribed for arthritis and arthritis type pain, although it is not an anti-inflammatory.

Some people make a mistake in taking Acetaminophen by taking the right dosage accordingly the label, but consume other amounts of Aceteminophen from other products such as cold remedies. This is a common way to exceed the safe daily does and put you at risk with serious effects include poisoning and potential liver and kidney toxicity. Other wise effects may include: Swelling, Hives and Rashes, hoarseness, itching, difficult breathing and difficulty swallowing.

Everybody has different tolerable levels of medications. The symptoms of an Acetaminophen overdose can be: fatigue, excessive sweating, loss of appetite, confusion, nausea, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, pain in stomach, flu like symptoms, and diarrhea.

Pregnant women with joint pain in their ankles, knees or hip joints or otherwise desiring to take Acetaminophen for other pain need to talk a Doctor first as Acetaminophen is passed on in the breast milk.

I would think that the person desiring to take something to alleviate joint pain in their knees, ankles, hips or elsewhere would first consider taking a product with a much smaller chance of side effects.

Pharmaceutical grade Glucosamine and Fish Oil (Omega 3 fatty acids) are food products that are manufactured to the same standards as prescription medication and over the counter drugs like Acetaminophen. Hence out recommendation to start with this and escalate to pain medications if Glucosamine and Fish Oil does not bring about the optimum level of joint health and reduction in discomfort or pain that the user is anticipating.