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Study Finds Dangers of Tylenol
-January 3, 2006
A recent study found that the leading cause of liver failure, a life threatening disease, is acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. In addition to Tylenol, acetaminophen is found in other over-the-counter medications like Theraflu, Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine, Coricidin Cold, Flu and Sinus, and Excedrin. Prescription painkillers such as Vicodin and Percocet also contain acetaminophen. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of accidental acetaminophen overdoses in recent years.
According to lead study investigator, Dr. William Lee of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, these drugs are generally safe when taken as recommended on package labeling. People believe that medicines like Tylenol are so safe that they can take an increased dose or combine medications.
"So the dose that they are really taking is not the four grams-which is the maximum per day, or eight extra-strength Tylenol or whatever-they'll be taking eight or ten grams a day. Obviously, one increases the risk of liver damage with this dose-related toxin when you raise the dose above the eight to ten gram range." The doctor says that taking more than four grams of acetaminophen a day or combining the drug with other medications could be asking for trouble.
In Dr. Lee's study, those who accidentally overdosed on acetaminophen were taking an average of 24 grams (two times the suggested amount) over a period of three days when trying to get rid of the flu or pain. Overdosing on acetaminophen can occur when a person unintentionally takes more than one medication containing acetaminophen. This drug is a dose related toxin. Failing to read the labels on medications and assuming there is no risk in taking over-the-counter medicine poses the risk that serious injury could occur, warns doctors.
According to the FDA, there are 50,000 emergency room visits and 500 deaths every year due to accidental overdose of acetaminophen containing products. Though the reason is not clear, the number of people who experienced acetaminophen poisoning doubled between 1998 and 2003.
Although an acetaminophen overdose can lead to liver failure and death, most people who suffer acetaminophen poisoning survive, though many require intensive care to pull through.
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