Signs & Symptoms of Liver Damage From Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen, a commonly used analgesic, relieves both pain and fever and is generally considered safe to use as an over-the-counter medication. Marketed as a tablet, oral suspension and rectal suppository, acetaminophen is typically the first line of defense for a niggling headache or a child's fever. Acetaminophen's risks, however, include liver damage for overdose. According to Harvard's Family Health Guide, "tens of thousands of Americans" require hospitalization each year for liver damage or failure associated with the use of acetaminophen. Symptoms of liver damage range in severity from fatigue to liver failure.

Nausea and Vomiting

• As a response to an acute overdose of acetaminophen, the first symptoms may include nausea and vomiting. Because nausea and vomiting accompanies many illnesses, you may not suspect that acetaminophen is responsible, particularly if these are your only symptoms. It is vital, however, that potential liver damage be assessed as soon as possible, so if you suspect acetaminophen is the culprit of your nausea or vomiting, contact your doctor.

Extreme Fatigue

• As with nausea and vomiting, extreme fatigue may also be a symptom of the illness that you are using acetaminophen to treat. If you are experiencing extreme fatigue alone or in conjunction with other symptoms, and you may have taken even slightly more than the recommended safe dose of acetaminophen, consult with your health care provider about the possibility of liver damage.

Jaundice

• Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin or eyes, is a more-serious symptom of liver damage. Jaundice occurs when the liver is too damaged to process dying red blood cells, so bilirubin levels rise in the bloodstream, which causes yellowing of the skin. Contact your health care provider immediately if you experience jaundice as it could indicate severe liver damage.

Abdominal Pain

• Liver damage caused by acetaminophen can also cause abdominal pain, usually located in the upper right quadrant. The pain might be intense or dull and persistent. Because abdominal pain can be common with other ailments, liver damage can be masked. If you experience abdominal pain while taking acetaminophen, inform your health care provider immediately.