What is the recommended dose of Tylenol (acetaminophen) for a 175-pound individual?

Acetaminophen Dosing for a 175-Pound Individual

For a 175-pound (79.5 kg) person, the recommended dose is 650-1000 mg every 4-6 hours, with a maximum single dose of 1000 mg and a maximum daily dose not exceeding 4000 mg per 24 hours. 1, 2, 3

Standard Dosing Parameters

• Maximum single dose: 1000 mg (1 gram) 2, 3
• Typical dosing interval: Every 4-6 hours 1, 3
• Maximum daily dose: 4000 mg (4 grams) in 24 hours 1, 2, 3

However, for chronic daily use or to minimize hepatotoxicity risk, a more conservative maximum of 3000 mg per day is increasingly recommended rather than the FDA-approved 4000 mg limit. 1, 3

Practical Dosing Strategy

For this 175-pound individual:

• Start with 650-1000 mg every 6 hours (total: 2600-4000 mg/day) 1, 3
• If chronic use is anticipated, limit to 3000 mg/day maximum (e.g., 1000 mg three times daily or 650 mg every 4-6 hours) 1, 3
• Never exceed 1000 mg in a single dose 2, 3
• Maintain at least 4-hour intervals between doses 1, 3

Critical Safety Warnings

Explicitly counsel this patient to avoid ALL other acetaminophen-containing products, including over-the-counter cold remedies, sleep aids, and prescription opioid combinations, as approximately 30% of acetaminophen overdoses involve unintentional repeated supratherapeutic ingestions from multiple sources. 1, 3

Common Pitfalls to Avoid:

• Taking multiple acetaminophen-containing products simultaneously without tracking total daily intake 1
• Exceeding dosing frequency by taking doses closer than 4 hours apart 1
• Not recognizing acetaminophen in combination products (many cold medicines, pain relievers contain hidden acetaminophen) 1

Special Considerations

If this individual has any of the following risk factors, reduce the maximum daily dose to 2000-3000 mg:

• Chronic liver disease or cirrhosis 1, 2
• Chronic alcohol use (≥3 drinks daily) 2, 3
• Age ≥60 years 1, 3

For patients with these risk factors, hepatotoxicity can occur at doses ≤4000 mg, with severe liver damage reported at doses as low as 5-8.75 g/day in chronic alcohol users. 3

Hepatotoxicity Risk

Even therapeutic doses of 4 g/day for 14 days can cause liver enzyme elevations (ALT >3× normal) in 31-41% of healthy adults, indicating that the 4000 mg maximum carries inherent risk. 3 This is why the conservative 3000 mg/day limit is preferred for chronic use. 1, 3

Repeated supratherapeutic ingestions (doses just above the therapeutic range) carry a worse prognosis than acute single overdoses, accounting for approximately 30% of acetaminophen overdose admissions. 1, 3