ACETAMINOPHEN 500MG

85/100 · Critical

Manufactured by Allegiant Health

Acetaminophen 500mg: High Serious Reaction Rate and Diverse Safety Concerns

734,137 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About ACETAMINOPHEN 500MG

ACETAMINOPHEN 500MG is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Allegiant Health. Based on analysis of 734,137 FDA adverse event reports, ACETAMINOPHEN 500MG has a safety score of 85 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for ACETAMINOPHEN 500MG include OFF LABEL USE, FATIGUE, DRUG INEFFECTIVE, PAIN, NAUSEA. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for ACETAMINOPHEN 500MG.

AI Safety Analysis

Acetaminophen 500mg has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100, placing it in the high concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 734,137 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Allegiant Health.

The most commonly reported adverse events include Off Label Use, Fatigue, Drug Ineffective. Of classified reports, 87.3% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. The majority of reactions are non-serious, but the serious reaction rate is high at 87.3%.

Pain and gastrointestinal issues are the most common reactions, but serious conditions like liver enzyme increase and kidney injury also occur. Overdose and intentional product use issues are significant safety concerns, indicating misuse potential.

Patients taking Acetaminophen 500mg should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Acetaminophen can cause liver toxicity, especially with overdose. It is contraindicated in patients with liver disease or those at risk of liver damage. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 85/100

Acetaminophen 500mg received a safety concern score of 85/100 (high concern). This is based on a 87.3% serious event ratio across 239,395 classified reports. The score accounts for 734,137 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This high score reflects a significant proportion of serious adverse events in the reporting data.

Top Adverse Reactions

OFF LABEL USE21,662 reports
FATIGUE19,932 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE17,780 reports
PAIN17,746 reports
NAUSEA17,143 reports
HEADACHE16,291 reports
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS14,611 reports
DYSPNOEA14,183 reports
ARTHRALGIA14,075 reports
PYREXIA13,948 reports
VOMITING13,611 reports
DIARRHOEA13,039 reports
RASH12,167 reports
INFUSION RELATED REACTION10,796 reports
PNEUMONIA10,704 reports
MALAISE9,974 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED9,502 reports
DIZZINESS9,381 reports
ASTHENIA9,355 reports
PRURITUS9,287 reports
NASOPHARYNGITIS8,949 reports
DEATH8,939 reports
JOINT SWELLING8,785 reports
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS8,705 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED8,450 reports
SINUSITIS8,284 reports
HYPERTENSION8,213 reports
FALL8,194 reports
HYPERSENSITIVITY8,051 reports
COMPLETED SUICIDE7,993 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN7,650 reports
COUGH7,523 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE7,514 reports
OVERDOSE7,491 reports
HYPOTENSION7,394 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED7,318 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY7,282 reports
PERIPHERAL SWELLING7,107 reports
ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT6,932 reports
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY6,796 reports
SWELLING6,789 reports
INTENTIONAL PRODUCT USE ISSUE6,767 reports
INFECTION6,721 reports
DRUG INTOLERANCE6,714 reports
HEPATIC ENZYME INCREASED6,535 reports
ALOPECIA6,367 reports
BLOOD PRESSURE INCREASED6,335 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER6,056 reports
INSOMNIA6,021 reports
BACK PAIN6,010 reports
DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY5,987 reports
GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION5,743 reports
DECREASED APPETITE5,680 reports
ARTHROPATHY5,652 reports
ANXIETY5,573 reports
INTENTIONAL OVERDOSE5,523 reports
PRODUCT USE ISSUE5,500 reports
URTICARIA5,462 reports
LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION5,437 reports
SYNOVITIS5,358 reports
COVID 195,349 reports
SOMNOLENCE5,237 reports
CONSTIPATION5,227 reports
SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS5,192 reports
PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION5,136 reports
CHEST PAIN5,119 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION5,037 reports
GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDER4,960 reports
MUSCULOSKELETAL STIFFNESS4,887 reports
BLISTER4,885 reports
WOUND4,866 reports
HAND DEFORMITY4,827 reports
PERICARDITIS4,794 reports
STOMATITIS4,751 reports
PEMPHIGUS4,728 reports
GLOSSODYNIA4,715 reports
INAPPROPRIATE SCHEDULE OF PRODUCT ADMINISTRATION4,710 reports
ANAEMIA4,673 reports
DISCOMFORT4,663 reports
HYPOAESTHESIA4,646 reports
CONTRAINDICATED PRODUCT ADMINISTERED4,587 reports
CONTUSION4,547 reports
DEPRESSION4,451 reports
MOBILITY DECREASED4,436 reports
DRUG INTERACTION4,434 reports
THERAPEUTIC PRODUCT EFFECT DECREASED4,406 reports
IMPAIRED HEALING4,301 reports
MATERNAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY4,247 reports
ANTI CYCLIC CITRULLINATED PEPTIDE ANTIBODY POSITIVE4,215 reports
HELICOBACTER INFECTION4,191 reports
DUODENAL ULCER PERFORATION4,123 reports
GAIT DISTURBANCE4,059 reports
IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME4,041 reports
FOLLICULITIS4,033 reports
ERYTHEMA3,933 reports
ILL DEFINED DISORDER3,886 reports
TREATMENT FAILURE3,809 reports
FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA3,698 reports
RENAL FAILURE3,692 reports
CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE3,659 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • High rate of serious reactions (87.3%)
  • Liver enzyme increase and kidney injury reported
  • Overdose and intentional misuse are common
  • Diverse range of reactions including respiratory, musculoskeletal, and neurological issues

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Female: 130,850, Male: 78,943, Unknown: 510. The most frequently reported age groups are age 44 (3,732 reports), age 65 (3,473 reports), age 43 (3,416 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 239,395 classified reports for ACETAMINOPHEN 500MG:

  • Serious: 209,100 reports (87.3%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 30,295 reports (12.7%)
Serious 87.3%Non-Serious 12.7%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Female130,850 (62.2%)
Male78,943 (37.5%)
Unknown510 (0.2%)

Reports by Age

Age 443,732 reports
Age 653,473 reports
Age 433,416 reports
Age 663,409 reports
Age 723,199 reports
Age 703,192 reports
Age 613,166 reports
Age 683,138 reports
Age 673,131 reports
Age 693,127 reports
Age 743,121 reports
Age 593,101 reports
Age 643,084 reports
Age 583,077 reports
Age 713,077 reports
Age 633,071 reports
Age 623,024 reports
Age 752,992 reports
Age 772,950 reports
Age 732,918 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Acetaminophen can cause liver toxicity, especially with overdose. It is contraindicated in patients with liver disease or those at risk of liver damage.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Acetaminophen 500mg, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include off label use, fatigue, drug ineffective, pain, nausea. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Always follow the recommended dosage and do not exceed the maximum daily limit to avoid liver damage. Be cautious when using acetaminophen with other medications that also contain acetaminophen to avoid accidental overdose. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

The FDA continues to monitor acetaminophen safety, particularly for serious adverse events and misuse. Regular updates and safety communications are issued.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Acetaminophen 500mg?

The FDA has received approximately 734,137 adverse event reports associated with Acetaminophen 500mg. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Acetaminophen 500mg?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Acetaminophen 500mg include Off Label Use, Fatigue, Drug Ineffective, Pain, Nausea. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Off Label Use (21,662 reports), Fatigue (19,932 reports), Drug Ineffective (17,780 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Acetaminophen 500mg.

What percentage of Acetaminophen 500mg adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 239,395 classified reports, 209,100 (87.3%) were classified as serious and 30,295 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Acetaminophen 500mg (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Acetaminophen 500mg break down by patient sex as follows: Female: 130,850, Male: 78,943, Unknown: 510. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Acetaminophen 500mg?

The most frequently reported age groups for Acetaminophen 500mg adverse events are: age 44: 3,732 reports, age 65: 3,473 reports, age 43: 3,416 reports, age 66: 3,409 reports, age 72: 3,199 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Acetaminophen 500mg?

The primary manufacturer associated with Acetaminophen 500mg adverse event reports is Allegiant Health. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Acetaminophen 500mg?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Acetaminophen 500mg include: Headache, Toxicity To Various Agents, Dyspnoea, Arthralgia, Pyrexia. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Acetaminophen 500mg?

You can report adverse events from Acetaminophen 500mg to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Acetaminophen 500mg's safety score and what does it mean?

Acetaminophen 500mg has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100 (high concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. The majority of reactions are non-serious, but the serious reaction rate is high at 87.3%.

What are the key safety signals for Acetaminophen 500mg?

Key safety signals identified in Acetaminophen 500mg's adverse event data include: High rate of serious reactions (87.3%). Liver enzyme increase and kidney injury reported. Overdose and intentional misuse are common. Diverse range of reactions including respiratory, musculoskeletal, and neurological issues. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Acetaminophen 500mg interact with other drugs?

Acetaminophen can cause liver toxicity, especially with overdose. It is contraindicated in patients with liver disease or those at risk of liver damage. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Acetaminophen 500mg.

What should patients know before taking Acetaminophen 500mg?

Always follow the recommended dosage and do not exceed the maximum daily limit to avoid liver damage. Be cautious when using acetaminophen with other medications that also contain acetaminophen to avoid accidental overdose.

Are Acetaminophen 500mg side effects well-documented?

Acetaminophen 500mg has 734,137 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. Pain and gastrointestinal issues are the most common reactions, but serious conditions like liver enzyme increase and kidney injury also occur. The volume of reports for Acetaminophen 500mg reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Acetaminophen 500mg?

The FDA continues to monitor acetaminophen safety, particularly for serious adverse events and misuse. Regular updates and safety communications are issued. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Related Drugs

Drugs related to ACETAMINOPHEN 500MG based on therapeutic use, drug class, or shared indications:

ParacetamolIbuprofenAspirinCodeineTramadol
Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.