Over a two-day period in January, the New Jersey Poison Center assisted in the medical care of several New Jersey patients who accidentally took too much acetaminophen while treating flu-like symptoms. Each patient is receiving antidotal therapy to prevent liver failure and death. “Cold and flu season is the time of year when we see an uptick in calls at the Poison Control Center related to the overuse of acetaminophen to alleviate flu-like symptoms,” said Diane Calello, executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. “Most people don’t realize they’re at risk of overusing acetaminophen because they’re unaware so many medicines contain this ingredient. There are more than 600 products on the market that contain acetaminophen.” To read the full story.