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Liver Toxicity of Acetaminophen

-February 5, 2006

According to an article posted in the December 2005 issue of Hepatology , potentially fatal cases of acute liver failure (ALF) caused by acetaminophen (Tylenol) rose from 28 percent in 1998 to 51 percent in 2003.

This research was conducted by the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle.

During the course of their research, medical experts identified 662 patients that had suffered acute liver failure (ALF) during a six-year period between January 1998 and December 2003.

In 42 percent of all ALF cases, acetaminophen-induced liver toxicity was the cause of liver failure. That percentage nearly doubled in the years between 1998 and 2003, leading researchers to believe the problem of Tylenol-related liver toxicity is a growing problem.

Nearly half of all cases of acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure were due to accidental overdose . Intentional overdoses in attempted suicide accounted for 44 percent of the liver failure cases. In eight percent of these subjects the intent was not known.

Of those who accidentally overdosed, nearly 40 percent took Tylenol in combination with another medication containing acetaminophen . Sixty-three percent took narcotic painkillers in conjunction with acetaminophen-containing products.

A majority (65 percent) of the subjects that suffered acute liver failure caused by Tylenol survived this drug side effect. Just over one-quarter of the subjects died before receiving a liver transplant and another eight percent died after a liver transplant.

The researchers conclude that the liver toxicity of acetaminophen far exceeds the other risk factors for acute liver failure in the United States of America.

Experts give the following advice to consumers in order to reduce the risk of life-threatening liver side effects associated with acetaminophen:

  always read and follow medication labeling regarding dosing recommendations and other drug indications

  never combine medications that contain acetaminophen (this may require searching the list of a medication's ingredients)

  speak with your doctor about the safety of combining acetaminophen with any drugs you are currently taking

  if you consume three or more alcoholic beverages a day, the risk of liver damage may be increased

  if you are prescribed an prescription painkiller , ask your doctor if it contains acetaminophen. Lortab, Percocet, and Tylox are three commonly prescribed narcotic painkillers containing acetaminophen

  seek immediate medical attention if you or a loved one suffers any of the following symptoms of liver toxicity after taking acetaminophen:

  itchy skin

  jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)

  dark urine

  unexplained flu-like symptoms

  abdominal pain in the upper right side of the stomach (where the liver is located)

For more information on drug safety information, please contact us to confer with an attorney.

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