The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns in a recent news release that acetaminophen, a popular fever and pain reliever medicine in the U.S., is linked to rare deadly skin reactions. The FDA says that acetaminophen is linked to three severe skin diseases whose symptoms can include, rash, blisters and, sometimes, extensive damage to the surface of skin. According to the FDA, if you are taking acetaminophen and get a rash or some other type of skin reaction, end your use of the medicine immediately and consult your physician.

The FDA notes that Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis are the two most severe skin reactions associated in rare cases with acetaminophen. Both of these skin reactions typically require hospitalizations and can be fatal. A third skin reaction, known as generalized exanthematous pustulosis, usually takes care of itself within two weeks of quitting the medication that led to the problem. The FDA says that if you’ve ever had a skin reaction when using acetaminophen, stop taking the drug and talk about different medicines with your doctor.

The FDA says that acetaminophen is the generic name of a common active ingredient found in numerous prescription and non-prescription medicines. Tylenol, for example, is one brand name of the pain reliever available over the counter, but acetaminophen is also accessible as a generic medicine under numerous names. Acetaminophen is also utilized in combination with other medicines, containing opioids for pain and medicines to minister to colds, coughs, allergy, headaches and difficulty sleeping.

“This new information is not intended to worry consumers or health care professionals, nor is it meant to encourage them to choose other medications,” says Dr. Sharon Hertz, deputy director of FDA’s Division of Anesthesia, Analgesia and Addiction. “However, it is extremely important that people recognize and react quickly to the initial symptoms of these rare but serious, side effects, which are potentially fatal.”

According to the FDA, other drugs utilized to administer to fever and pain, like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs including ibuprofen and naproxen, already have warnings about the hazards of severe skin reactions.

The news release notes that the FDA is now requiring that a warning about these serious skin reactions be placed on the labels of all prescription medicines containing acetaminophen. The FDA has promised to work with manufacturers to add the warnings to the labels of over-the-counter medicines containing acetaminophen.