Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, is the most popular over-the-counter pain killer in the United States and it is estimated that Americans take 8 billion Tylenol pills a year. Acetaminophen is also an ingredient over 200 medicines which do not have the name Tylenol on them.

Unfortunately, acetaminophen is a drug that can lead to liver damage and even death, when taken in excess amounts. Recently, the FDA decided that the maximum dosage level recommended for acetaminophen is not safe and should be lowered. Every year thousands of people wind up in emergency rooms from taking too much acetaminophen and many develop acute liver failure. Acetaminophen is recommended for children’s fevers and is considered safer than aspirin, but repetitive doses of acetaminophen for fever cause many accidental overdoses and deaths each year.

How much is too much

Currently, the recommended maximum dosage for adults during a 24 hour period is four grams (4000 mg) of acetaminophen; this is eight extra-strength (500 mg) pills. However, many factors can combine to make this too much. People who are frail or poorly nourished cannot process acetaminophen as efficiently as those in more robust health; this can be a serious risk in the elderly. People who are strictly fasting cannot process the drug efficiently. Alcohol consumption also interferes with the body’s processing of acetaminophen and those who drink two or more alcoholic beverages per day should limit their intake of acetaminophen 2 grams per day (four 500 mg pills).

Unfortunately, many people do not realize that they are taking acetaminophen pills along with other medications (such as cold and sinus medications) which contain the drug; this makes it easy to get too much acetaminophen. Frequently, people also take acetaminophen when pain strikes and may pay no heed to the recommended time interval between doses.

For some people a single dose of 3 to 4 grams of acetaminophen or 4 to 6 grams in twenty-four hours has resulted in liver damage. In healthy adults, 7 to 10 grams of acetaminophen is a single dose has resulted in liver damage. Unfortunately, liver damage is sometimes not reversible and may lead to acute liver failure. Only a liver transplant can save a person in acute liver failure.

Acetaminophen and the Liver

The body processes acetaminophen and other drugs by metabolizing them into other compounds. Sometimes there is too much acetaminophen to process in the normal way; the liver has a “back-up system” so to speak and can then process acetaminophen in another way. Unfortunately, both ways of processing acetaminophen are overwhelmed when too much of the drug is taken; liver damage then occurs. The presence of some medications like phenytoin (Dilantin), phenobarbital, carbamazephine (Tegretol), or isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid, Laniazid) increases the damage and so does alcohol.

Symptoms of Acetaminophen Overdose and Liver Damage

The symptoms of acetaminophen liver damage appear in three stages. During the first 12 to 24 hours after the overdose occurs, the patient feels nauseated and vomits. Unfortunately, after this stage, the patient will generally feel fine and think that the problem is over; the second stage may last 12 to 24 hours.

In the third stage, which generally begins 48 to 72 hours after the overdose, blood abnormalities begin to show up in liver blood tests. The liver damage may be reversible or it may lead to kidney failure, a severe acid buildup, coma, or bleeding disorders; at this stage of liver failure, a liver transplant is the only hope to save the patient.

What to do in case of Acetaminophen Overdose

If you suspect that you or someone you are caring for has taken too much acetaminophen, do not delay getting emergency medical help. When proper medical help is received in time liver damage can be prevented or reversed. Doctors will generally pump the stomach to rid it of any remains of acetaminophen pills. Sometimes the patient will be given activated charcoal to help absorb the drug, but this is controversial since charcoal can interfere with other medications needed to help the person. An antidote called N-acetyl cysteine (Mucomyst) is very effective and should be given even if acetaminophen overdose is merely suspected; this drug replenishes the chemical in the liver needed to process the acetaminophen.

If you or a member of your family has been the victim of acetaminophen-related liver damage or failure, the experienced lawyers at Newsome can help you get financial compensation. Do not delay. Contact Newsome today. We are experienced in dealing with personal injury and product liability cases; put our experience to work for you. Fill out the case evaluation form on the right of the screen and one of our qualified attorneys will advise you of your rights and help you get the help you deserve.