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    L484 Pill

    When you find a random pill where you don’t expect to find one, your first instinct is to just throw it away. Before you do that, you really should know what it is. An L484 pill is a common item in many homes.

    We want you to be confident you know exactly what it is and what to do with it.

    What Is an L484 Pill?

    All pills have some sort of identifier on them so that they do not get confused for being other medications.

    The L484 is a white capsule or oval-shaped pill named that because of the identifier on each individual pill itself. This pill is actually just acetaminophen that is supplied by Kroger Company.

    This acetaminophen is approximately 16mm in size and the strength of it is 500mg.

    Ingredients in an L484 Pill

    There are many inactive ingredients in the L484 acetaminophen pill. The following ingredients are included, however, they can vary.

    Carnauba Wax- This is used to coat and bind tablets. This specific wax derives from the leaves of the Copernicia prunifera palm which is only grown in Brazil.

    Coating pills in carnauba wax is useful in enabling easier swallowing of the pill. This wax is a safe, non-toxic ingredient that has many other uses anywhere from car wax to dental floss.

    Corn Starch- This is a natural starch which comes from corn kernels. This white to yellowish fine powder can help the pill disintegrate or breakdown into smaller fragments. Only when the pill dissolves, is it able to be released for absorption into the body.

    This is a safe food substance according to the FDA.

    Hypromellose- This is an off white to beige powder that can be used to coat the pill. Another name for this substance is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. This can also be used for sustained release doses of medications.

    Polyethylene Glycol- This ingredient has many uses. It can be used as a solvent, plasticizer, surfactant, suppository base, ointment and/or a pill lubricant. This is safe and has many other uses as well. Polyethylene glycol can also be used as a laxative.

    Povidone- This is a white to off-white hygroscopic powder which can be used to assist in the pills ability to disintegrate and in binding. This can dissolve in both water and oil solvents.

    This has many other functions as well. It can be used in combination with iodine to prevent infections in surgical incisions and dental procedures.

    Stearic Acid- This is also known as n-octadecanoic acid (C18H36O2). This is a wax-like, fatty acid that is saturated.

    This substance is taken from both animal or vegetable fats and or oils. It is used as an emulsifying agent, solubilizing agent and a pill lubricant.

    This is an FDA approved agent used in many things such as lotion, soaps, cocoa butter and more.

    What Is an L484 Pill Used For?

    Since we know that the L484 pill is acetaminophen, we need to look at the uses of that. Acetaminophen is a nonopioid analgesic and antipyretic.

    This medication is used to relieve mild to moderate pain from headaches, muscle aches, back aches, toothaches, minor arthritis, common colds, and menstrual cramps. It can also be used to reduce fever and in conjunction with opioids to provide optimum pain relief for moderate to severe pain.

    This pill is available in smaller doses over the counter, however, larger doses must be prescribed by a physician.

    How L484 Pills Work

    Acetaminophen reduces pain by inhibiting the enzyme cyclooxygenase, blocks prostaglandin production and interferes with the pain impulse generation in the peripheral nervous system.

    Cyclooxygenase is responsible for producing prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are lipids that are made in the location of tissue damage or infection.

    Prostaglandins control inflammation, blood flow, blood clot formation and induction of labor processes. Pain and inflammation occur when prostaglandin production is high.

    Therefore, acetaminophen can be used to decrease the prostaglandin formations and diminish pain impulses from being sent to the body and brain.

    Side Effects of L484 Pills

    The most common and general side effects of acetaminophen include nausea, stomach pain, itching, rash, headache, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice and loss of appetite.

    Some adverse effects include hypoglycemia, coma, hepatotoxicity, vomiting, hemolytic anemia with long term use, leukopenia, neutropenia, pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, blisters, jaundice, pruritus, steven johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, urticaria, angioedema, and a hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis reaction.

    Although many of these symptoms are rare, it is very important to pay close attention to dosing to avoid toxicity or overdose.

    When to Seek Medical Attention

    Although acetaminophen is generally seen as a safe drug used in many households, it is important to be able to recognize the signs of severe adverse effects.

    If you have any of the following side effects, call a physician immediately.

    • Nausea
    • Upper stomach pain
    • Loss of appetite
    • Dark urine
    • Clay-colored stools
    • Yellowing of the skin or the eyes
    • Difficulty breathing
    • Swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat
    • Hives
    • Fever that continues to get worse or lasts more than 3 days
    • Any signs of hepatotoxicity occur such as bleeding, easy bruising or malaise

    Early signs of hepatic overdose can include nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis (or sweating) or general malaise. However, it can take anywhere from 48 to 72 hours after ingestion of overdose for clinical and laboratory evidence of hepatic toxicity to appear.

    A potentially fatal hepatic necrosis (or death of the liver), renal tubular necrosis (or death of the tubes in the kidney) can happen if an overdose is not addressed quickly.

    How Should You Take L484 Pills?

    These pills may be crushed or swallowed. It is important to avoid an overdose of acetaminophen. To avoid overdose, be sure to check all drug ingredients in any medication, especially over-the-counter medications, that you are taking at the same time as acetaminophen therapy.

    A safe dose of acetaminophen is less than 4,000 mg in a single day or 24-hour period. If too much acetaminophen is taken it can lead to severe liver damage.

    Liver damage can also occur from regular doses that are taken with alcohol. If acetaminophen overdose is suspected, the antidote, N-acetyl cysteine, should be given within 16 hours.

    Following this, liver function tests must be repeated at 24-hour intervals to ensure the antidote worked and that there is no damage to the kidneys.

    Interactions: What Should You Avoid Taking With L484 Pills?

    There are many drug interactions that can happen when paired with acetaminophen.
    These include but are not limited to the following:

    • Anticholinergics: use with acetaminophen can cause a decrease in the onset of the acetaminophen. This means acetaminophen will not work as quickly as it should.
    • Barbiturates, Carbamazepine, Hydantoins, Isoniazid, Rifampin, Sulfinpyrazone: use with acetaminophen can cause a decrease in the therapeutic effects of acetaminophen and it can increase the risk of hepatotoxic effects.
    • Lamotrigine and Loop Diuretics: use with acetaminophen can decrease the effectiveness of these types of drugs.
    • Oral Contraceptives: use with acetaminophen can cause a decrease in the effectiveness of acetaminophen
    • Probenecid: use with acetaminophen can cause an increase in the therapeutic effects of acetaminophen in a negative way.
    • Warfarin: use with acetaminophen can cause the international normalized ratio (INR) to increase.
    • Zidovudine: use with acetaminophen can cause a decrease in zidovudine effects.
    • Alcohol use: use with acetaminophen can increase the risk of hepatotoxicity.

    There are few issues that can prevent the use of acetaminophen in patients. Acetaminophen is not recommended for a patient who has a severe hepatic impairment or severe active liver disease.

    Due to the liver impairment with these two complications can increase the risk for the patient developing liver damage and overdose.

    Risk of Addiction to L484 Pills

    With any drug, there is a risk for addiction. Misuse and overuse can easily lead to addiction with acetaminophen.

    Tolerance is a common sign of regular use of any drug. With acetaminophen, a tolerance can build up when the body develops a resistance to the drug and requires larger or more frequent doses in order to keep experiencing positive effects.

    When tolerance is built up, it is easier for an overdose to occur. This is because the more a drug is needed in a 24-hour period the closer a patient will get to the maximum dose of 4,000 mg.

    Once a drug is used over time, the body can become accustomed to it being inside of the body systems.

    Using the same drug daily even at non-toxic levels can lead to physical or mental dependence. When this occurs, it is possible for a patient to go through withdrawal when they abruptly stop taking it.

    Although acetaminophen withdrawal is much less severe than withdrawal from other medications such as opioids, it can cause symptoms such as severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, and/ or cravings for the drug to make the symptoms subside.

    Generally, when withdrawal symptoms occur, this is when abuse can happen. Abuse is when a patient uses the drug in a way that is not recommended by physicians or drug manufacturers.

    Thankfully, although acetaminophen addiction is possible, detox and withdrawal from acetaminophen are generally less dangerous and uncomfortable than other drugs.

    Since acetaminophen cannot produce a euphoric or “high” effect, misuse is not as detrimental as other medications. However, the greatest consequence and risk for misuse is the possibility of hepatotoxicity and liver damage.

    L484 Pills and Pregnancy

    According to the FDA, oral acetaminophen use during pregnancy has shown no increased risk for congenital malformation when compared with unexposed children.

    A large study showed data from 26,424 women who used oral acetaminophen during the first trimester of pregnancy. These results were compared to a control group of women who did not expose their child to oral acetaminophen during the first trimester of pregnancy.

    The conclusion was the same, that there was no increase in congenital malformations with women who used oral acetaminophen during pregnancy.

    There have been no controlled studies to indicate that oral acetaminophen use during labor and delivery is either safe or harmful. Therefore, it should only be used if the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks.

    In women who desire to breastfeed, it is important to understand that acetaminophen can be secreted through the breastmilk of a nursing mother to an infant. Caution should be used to prevent too much acetaminophen from passing to infants.

    Caution should also be used by the mother to detect whether or not her baby has any adverse reactions or rash to acetaminophen use in the mother.

    Treatment and effectiveness of acetaminophen in children under two years of age have not been studied well enough. So, typically, it is only safe and effective for patients two years of age and older.

    Related Drugs or Medications

    In order to prevent an overdose when using the L484 pill, it is important to understand just how many various medications contain acetaminophen.

    There are over 600 medications available in the United States that contain acetaminophen. Because of this, it is very easy to use too much in a day when a patient is sick and in pain.

    Listed below is an account for many of the over the counter medication brand name medications that may contain acetaminophen.

    • Actifed
    • Alka-Seltzer Plus LiquidGels
    • Anacin
    • Benadryl
    • Cepacol
    • Contac
    • Coricidin
    • Dayquil
    • Dimetapp
    • Dristan
    • Excedrin
    • Feverall
    • Formula 44
    • Goody’s
    • Powders Liquiprin
    • Midol
    • Nyquil
    • Panadol
    • Robitussin
    • Saint Joseph
    • Aspirin-Free Singlet
    • Sinutab
    • Sudafed
    • Theraflu
    • Triaminic
    • TYLENOL Brand Products
    • Vanquish
    • Vicks
    • Zicam
    • *And all other store brands

    Listed below is an account for the various types of prescription medications that also contain acetaminophen.

    • Endocet
    • Fioricet
    • Hycotab
    • Hydrocet
    • Hydrocodone Bitartrate
    • Lortab
    • Percocet
    • Phenaphen
    • Sedapap
    • Tapanol
    • Tylenol with Codeine
    • Tylox
    • Ultracet
    • Vicodin
    • Zydone
    • *And all generic medicines

    Before taking acetaminophen, talk to your doctor about your health history and any current medications you are taking. Your physician will be able to determine whether or not this medication is right and safe for you.

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