Acetaminophen and Liver Failure: Paracetamol and Tylenol Side Effects
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Liver Failure and Death Due To Acetaminophen Overdose
A friend’s elderly mother had been ill with age-related issues for some time. Still, it came as a shock to learn of her death and that none of her illnesses took her life.
She took acetaminophen for pain and a poisoning due to an overdose killed her. She died unexpectedly and surprisingly quickly.
This over the counter (OTC) drug is a fast acting poison when it is over used. If doses are repeated too quickly or when there is a slow build up of it in the body liver damage and liver failure can occur.
This side effect of aceteminophen is now the most common reason people suffer critical liver failure in America. Combine that OTC with certain other prescription medications or herbal supplements increases the risks associated with using the pain relief product.
How can it be that so many people overdose and even die from liver failure because they use the pain reliever acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol) to try and relieve their pain symptoms?
Who Is At Risk Of Acetaminophen Related Liver Failure and Death?
♦ Like my friend’s mother, the elderly are at risk of toxicity with this pain killer. There could be several factors at work, but how much medication is in their system and how those medicines build up due to their age increases the chance of an unexpected overdose.
♦ Liver transplant patients can be at risk.
♦ Patients with HIV, alcoholics, eating disorders, or who take alcohol containing medications such as cough syrup.
♦ People who take other medications, prescription or OTC, without checking on the safety of using them with acetaminophen.
♦ Teens and even children who decide to treat themselves for pain symptoms without telling their parents or another adult so they can get supervised advice on how to take acetaminophen.
♦ Children can have significant risks due to their age related needs, latent illness, improper nourishment, and more.
Why Are More People At Risk Of Acetaminophen Related Liver Failure Than Most Realize?
♦ Evidenced-based studies show that the number of acetaminophen related liver failures is on the rise. Consistent reports indicate that taking this pain killer with narcotics, alcohol, depression medications, St. John’s Wort and a number of other medications could lead to toxicity.
♦ Not knowing that a multiple ingredient OTC product may label acetaminophen as APAP can lead patients to unknowingly take more than their intended dose. Not realizing that they have taken a harmful dose, they may take even more acetaminophen if they don’t feel better soon, or if they feel worse in a few hours.
♦ Failure to know that acetaminophen can have side effects is a weighty error. Recognizing the symptoms of acetaminophen related liver failure can take a patient several days. Failure to recognize that too much acetaminophen has been ingested leads to a critical delay in testing and treatment.
♦ Avoiding liver injury or even death when there is an overdose requires getting tested and treated within 24 hours, and some reports indicate that certain cases need that testing and treatment within 16 hours.
What Causes Acetaminophen Poisoning?
♦ A primary cause of liver failure due to acetaminophen poisoning is a simple failure to read and follow the package directions for using any brand of this pain killer. No one is above this rule; everyone who breaks this rule is in danger of a dangerous and/or lethal overdose.
♦ Combining an acetaminophen tablet or capsule with another OTC drug that combines doses of acetaminophen with other symptomatic drugs is another primary cause of serious overdose.
♦ Reports indicate that it is possible for consistent use of fairly small doses to cause acute damage to the liver.
Is Acetaminophen Overdose Really the Primary Cause of Death from Liver Failure?
Is Acetaminophen A Safe Pain Killer?
There are always risks with any kind of medicine, but many doctors consider acetaminophen a safe pain blocking drug if used according to directions. A better way to look at the directions for taking this pain blocker might be to look at them as warnings.
Take the warnings seriously:
• Take acetaminophen drugs according to directions.
• Adults administering acetaminophen to young children should be aware that children should not take the product designed for infants because in reality infant doses are more concentrated.
• If you have chronic health problems that require the use of other medication do not take acetaminophen until you have researched whether taking it with those other medications is safe.
• If you take acetaminophen do not take other OTC medications until you are absolutely certain that they do not also contain acetaminophen.
• If you realize that you have taken more than the recommended dose of acetaminophen seek medical attention immediately as delay could result in liver damage and/or failure.
A Serious Look at Acetaminophen Dangers--Side Effects of Paracetamol and Tylenol
Is The FDA Looking At Liver Damage, Liver Failure, Death, And Acetaminophen?
Yes, and the problem is being evaluated:
The failure of consumers to read and follow directions on acetaminophen product packaging could result in legal action requiring a doctor’s office visit and a prescription so that patients would be certain to have the education needed in order to take the pain killer safely and effectively.
Consumers in America could also see the availability of this product greatly reduced as in other countries, as well as the dosages lowered. Fewer or no multiple ingredient products containing acetaminophen may be available in the future and a switch to other products such as NSAIDs may be on the horizon.
The solutions have their own set of complex problems, but hands down, the best solution is for patients to educate themselves about acetaminophen (called paracetamol in other countries) and consider its use carefully if a pain reliever is needed.
Alert on Acetaminophen and Teen Asthma
- Natural Painkillers
A helpful list of natural, non-narcotic pain killers that may benefit those who need pain relief.
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Beware of Acetaminophen Side Effects: Tylenol & Paracetamol
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Who Is At Risk From Taking Too Much Acetaminophen? The Elderly, Children, And People Who Have Any Health Problem
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♦ Were You Aware That Acetaminophen Can Cause Liver Failure?Loading...
angela p:
It is sobering, and I hope this info helps you do some research that will help you make the best decision for your health. The videos are full of interesting information.
Thanks kindly for reading and commenting!
All those years of watching Tylenol commercials that lulled us into believing it was a safe drug, and now look what we're finding out. It's so important not to become overly dependent on these easily available drugs and to follow the directions on the label when we do take them. Thanks for sharing this timely information. Rated up and useful
I like the way you presented this is in an unbiased factual manner rather than using scare tactics. I especially appreciated the information about the infant formula being more concentrated than the child's formula. I would have thought it would be the other way around with the child's formula being the most concentration so that was educational. Voted up.
I knew about this and usually take Ibuprofen, but will pop a Tylenol from time to time. My mother takes it quite often for arthritis, so thanks for the reminder.
Very good to get the word out. I can't take Acetaminophen because of my kidneys. People don't seem to understand that in all phases of life, you need to protect your liver and your kidneys. It all makes sense down the road. Voted up and everything else.
Good information to have, RTalloni. Too often, people believe that because something is available over-the-counter, that it is safer than presciption meds and so can be taken without regard to dosage.
PWalker281:
Yes, and good points to keep in mind about acetaminophen products--all products for that matter.
Thanks much for helping to highlight this topic with your input and for your votes!
DonnaCosmato:
Thank you--sobering information is usually well able to speak for itself without our adding scare tactics, but our emotion will sometimes get in the way of letting serious issues do their own work.
There is a lot of information on the dangers of acetaminophen products, but there seems to be a missing link in the education process--possibly because of the sheer numbers of people and drugs available.
So glad that you were able to gain some new information because one sharing with another is going to help get the message out. Thanks for helping to highlight this hub's topic by sharing your comments, and for the vote!
rebeccamealey:
Thanks for stopping by and joining this dialogue!
You might like to have your mom do some reading on acetaminophen and the elderly for it is important to be aware of the side effects that we don't hear enough about. All medicines need careful consideration before we take them, and certain people are more at risk than others.
So appreciate that you helped highlight the topic with your input!
Is this what is called paracetamol in the UK? I know that OTC can cause liver problems. So often though it is the combination of OTC drugs that can prove lethal, Interesting
Arlene V. Poma:
Thanks for helping to highlight the topic with your comments. It is sad to see the careless use of products and prescriptions for the results are often devastating. You are right in pointing out that it is sometimes not until later in life that we see the consequences--a concept that is applicable to all areas of life, actually. Appreciate your input and votes very much!
I do take tylenol for pain but only when I absolutely need to because the pain is preventing me from going to sleep. I have had liver problems before, and I knew this to be a problem. It's good to share so more people know about it.
Thank you for the very important warning, RTalloni. Liver damage from acetaminophen is a scary thought, especially since so many people take the medication as a pain reliever and the name of an OTC product may not not indicate that acetaminophen is present. It's a great shame that your friend's mother died of acetaminophen poisoning when she could have lived longer, despite her health problems.
Shelly McRae:
That's an excellent point, one that has perhaps contributed to deaths. Consumer responsibility cannot be ignored in some of the cases.
So glad for your input--thanks for adding to this discussion!
ethel smith:
Yes, paracetamol and acetaminophen are the same pain reliever. I meant to mention that in my hub and I thank you for giving me the heads up that I failed to do so--have just added that information.
Acetaminophen alone can and has caused liver damage and death, but a combination of drugs is a sign of danger.
Thanks kindly for your helpful input to help highlight the problems associated with this drug.
homesteadbound:
You mention an important key to using any product safely--only when absolutely necessary.
Thanks very much for your comment to help keep this topic highlighted!
AliciaC:
You are welcome. Being certain that we know what all of the ingredient are in any product we use is imperative. Helping each other pay attention by talking and writing about the concerns is important. Thanks so much for helping to highlight this topic's issues by reading the hub and adding your comments to the discussion!
My mother in law is always taking Tylenol. I better send her a link to your hub as this is really scary stuff.
Lot's of information in this one. I am glad you shared, I was totally ignorant of how dangerous acetometophin could be especially to the very young or the very old. It used to be that tylenol was the go-to for pain, guess that will be changing in the future.
Just Ask Susan:
Although I knew that acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol) products could present some danger, I did not know the details until I did some research on the topic. Do encourage your mother in law to read up on the concerns. Thanks bunches for stopping by and sharing the info.
cherylone:
Thanks much. I thought I knew enough about the danger of liver failure due to acetaminophen until I did some research after my friend's mother died. The products containing acetaminophen can be used wisely, but that requires knowledge and paying attention to the facts. Misuse by consumers and inattention by doctors may be primary factors that change the availability of acetaminophen for the American public.
So appreciate your visit and input to help keep the issues with acetaminophen highlighted!
Acetaminophen is so commonly prescribed that it's good to know there could be dangerous side-effects. Didn't know that infant doses are actually more concentrated .Thanks for the useful information and rated up.
anglnwu:
Acetaminophen is actually prescribed by doctors even though it is also an OTC drug. I hadn't thought to mention that. The higher concentration of infant doses seems to be news to many people. It is produced that way to reduce the amount of fluid an infant has to swallow. The danger comes when parents think they should give a child sized dose of the infant product to an older toddler. Thank you so much for helpful comments and for your vote!
I had no idea that infant doses were more concentrated. It's so important to follow proper dosing. Even if I get to the point where I need to take something I tend to only take 1/2 the amount if 2 pills is the dose and still get the benefits.
ktrapp:
Following the proper dosing is imperative, but your approach to taking less than the recommended dose to see if that much will do the job is a smart move. I've experienced the same in having half the dose do the job, probably because I will put up with pain while trying to find a different solution than pain blockers. Part of that comes from wanting to solve the problem rather than relieve the symptoms, part of it comes from knowledge of the damage pain killers can do.
Thanks much for adding helpful comments to this discussion!
This is so horrific because it is oh so true. A major cause of liver failure as you mentioned is the fact that so many other drugs also contain acetaminophen - so when you also take a Tylenol (which I'm pretty sure is still on the recall list again - this time supposedly due to contamination at the factory) - you have just multiplied your risk of liver failure.
By the way, when I was in England 10 years ago I preferred paracetamol to Tylenol so I always wanted to purchase several packs to bring back to the US (and it was so much cheaper) - but I was in a Tesco's and they told me there were now limits. I could buy 2 small packs (of 10 I think it was) but not 4 so my cousin bought the other 2 for me. Of course in the US you can buy all you want.
Thanks for a very timely article and a very serious reminder. Our dependence on synthetic drugs continue to do us deathly harm.
Rated up and more. Thanks again.
BkCreative:
An overdose is a horror story and the fact that there are so many ways to get one with acetaminophen makes this an important topic. So glad you came by with your input to help keep the warnings highlighted. Thanks for your votes, as well.
You did a great service by researching and publishing this Hub. When I worked in medicine, we used to see first hand patients who had liver damage from acetaminophen. Thanks for sharing. I voted it UP, etc.
Thanks so much mary615. There's nothing like the voice of experience to help us understand a problem. So appreciate your visit and comments!
I had thought Tylenol was safe always. When my daughter suffered a seizure at 18 months old things changed for me. She ran a high fever for a few days and the doctor gave her an antihistamine along with Tylenol. After the seizure which was considered an atypical febrile seizure the doctors told me several people have issues with Tylenol especially in combination with certain antihistamines. I haven't given her Tylenol since! Great informative hub!
Tams R:
There are way too many stories about the side effects of acetaminophen. While there may be times when there is no choice, it may be that very often, perhaps most often, there is a different, safer choice for pain relief.
So glad you shared your story about the danger of combining acetaminophen with antihistamines. Thanks much for adding to this discussion.
angela p Level 4 Commenter 4 months ago
This is very scary. I take a lot of tylenol for aches and pains...getting old I guess. This has made me think twice about the amount I take. Very good information.