Tylenol Effects on the Liver

As of June 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has forced pharmaceutical manufacturers to include warnings of the potential of liver damage on all medications containing acetaminophen. Although acetaminophen is found in more than 600 medications, it is only recognized by most consumers as the active ingredient in the brand-name Tylenol.

Identification

• Acetaminophen, often labeled as APAP in prescription medication, is the active ingredient contained in both prescription and nonprescription drugs. Acetaminophen is identified by more than 70% of the population according to its popular brand identity, Tylenol. Conversely, certain nonprescription medications that focus on specific treatments, such as cold and flu symptoms, sleeplessness and allergies, are often overlooked when warning against acetaminophen excess.

Effects

• Consumption of acetaminophen beyond its recommended dosage can result in damage to the liver, ranging from acute liver failure to death. An estimated 400 deaths in the United States, alone, are attributed to acetaminophen. Taken in appropriate quantities, however, acetaminophen is safe for long-term use.

Considerations

• The FDA also advises that if you consume more than three alcoholic beverages per day, you refrain from consuming any amount of acetaminophen. Drinking three alcoholic beverages per day over an extended period of time is known as alcohol-induced-liver disorder (ALD.) ALD, apart from taking acetaminophen, is already a leading cause of death in the United States.

Identification

• Most overdoses of acetaminophen occur primarily due to lack of education about the various medications that contain the drug. In addition to the over-the-counter (OTC) specialty products that isolate certain medical ills, acetaminophen is contained in other popular prescription drugs such as Davocet, Vicodin and Percocet. There are currently more than 600 OTC and prescription drugs that contain acetaminophen.

Considerations

• Acetaminophen has also been identified as a cause of liver damage and stomach bleeding even when recommended dosages are met. Research has revealed that this is due to the genetic strain identified as CD44. While it is not yet understood exactly how acetaminophen affects this strain, identification enables researchers to identify and prevent future fatalities.

Prevention/Solution

• As of June 2009, the FDA requires that all medications that contain acetaminophen, along with medications classified as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, print warnings of the risks associated with taking them on both the outer packaging, as well as on the actual bottle. In addition to informing the consumer of the possibilities of liver damage and stomach bleeding, the manufacturer is required to include the active ingredients on the packaging.