DANGER - Take Tylenol with Care

[Brian R.]

Acetaminophen (Tylenol and others) is extremely dangerous if taken in a single large dose, if taken chronically, or if taken by a person who drinks alcohol frequently.

A dose of more than 7.5 grams in adults 150 mg/kg in children may kill with no chance for saving your liver (life) after a couple days without treatment. Frequent alcohol consumption lowers this potentially fatal dose to much less than that. If you consume more than one or two alcoholic drinks a day, it is recommended that you strictly limit acetaminophen intake to no more than 1 gram per day (the recommended dose).

In addition to ethanol consumption, other drugs that can cause increased susceptibility to acetaminophen poisoning are isoniazid, phenobarbital, and rifampin. Conditions that increase ones susceptibility to acetaminophen-related liver toxicity are diabetes mellitus, obesity, chronic undernutrition, fasting, genetic liver weaknesses, or concomitant viral infection. See:

American Academy of Pediatrics

http://www.aap.org/policy/0014.html

The problem is extremely serious and requires much more discussion than I can provide. Please read the following links for more information.

The Critical Care Forum:

http://ccforum.com/bmc/1364-8535/6/155

Postgraduate Medicine Online

http://www.postgradmed.com/issues/2000/01_00/draganov.htm

Internet Journal of Medical Toxicology

http://www.ijmt.net/1_3/1_3_19.html

For more information, just search google or other for acetaminophen toxicity alcohol.

[ZokesPro]

My mom when she was 5 years old gobble about 15 pills of Tylenol cause she thought they were candy. She got sick but nothing more.

I wonder if Tylenol now adays is stronger or more toxic then what it was 40 years ago?

[SpiralDragon]

how about Dafalgon Codein... does it have the same efect..... ? i get lost of migrans and its the only thing that can stop it.. i take it on almost daily bassis..... up to about 4-6 tablet /day.....

and in case you are wondering... you can esely get the strongest medicinse here in lebs with out prescription..... even lexo....

[Gurm]

Erm,

This is SUPER old news. There has been a warning in Tylenol about taking it with alcohol and about people with weak livers not taking it for YEARS.

The "single large dose" problem is only if you have a weak liver or a failing liver.

- Gurm

[Brian R.]

Gurm - Please read the references I cited. A large dose of acetaminophen will kill anyone. A small dose will kill many people under different circumstances.

Also, the labeling on acetaminophen grossly understates the problem.

The critical care forum cites that during a 52-week period, acetaminophen accounted for 7.5% of all cases of poisoning admitted. That percentage is high for any medication. For an over-the-counter medication, it is ridiculous. I would say that this result shows that not everyone considers it old news.

As far as the codeine derivative is concerned, I have no knowledge about its toxicity. Acetaminophen is in a class by itself.

[Gurm]

Actually it's not in a class by itself.

It _IS_, however, alone in its class amongst FDA-approved drugs in the US.

Heh.

And a big enough dose of MILK will kill anyone, while a much smaller dose will kill the lactose intolerant.

- Gurm

[Brian R.]

The difference between acetaminophen and milk (I can't believe I'm responding to your post) is the difference in what is called their therapeutic index.

Milk has a broad therapeutic index because its lowest beneficial dose is small and its toxic dose is large (it is not really toxic at any dose). Acetaminophen has a very narrow therapeutic index and is therefore dangerous. OTC drugs are supposed to be very forgiving with respect to accidental overdosage.

The liver toxicity of acetaminophen was not well understood when it was approved by FDA. Unfortunately, the drug companies are very influential and it is very difficult to remove a drug off the market once it is approved. They are assisted in their profit-making endeavors by people like you who refute the science with BS.

[Gurm]

I'm not saying that you're wrong. In fact I personally NEVER take Tylenol. I'm simply encouraging you not to overreact.

- Gurm

[Brian R.]

I understand. However, I don't feel I am doing anything but stating information that is repeated in thousands of websites. There is no overstating when I say that acetaminophen is the most dangerous drug you can buy over-the-counter.

[Gurm]

I disagree.

Aspartame (Nutrasweet) is the most dangerous drug you can buy OTC (in the SUPERMARKET, no less!).

Actually, Sucralose is pretty damn bad too.

- Gurm

[Liquid Memory]

Joel and Gurm need prayer bad.

[Brian R.]

Sorry, aspartame is not a drug.

[Gurm]

Heh. Fine. Consumable compound.

- Gurm

[Brian R.]

Sorry, I don't know shit about consumable compounds, only drugs.

[KvHagedorn]

Drano is a compound and can be consumed.. are you saying it's not as bad as aspartame?