Tylenol and other forms of acetaminophen are one of the most popular pain medications around the world. It’s estimated that 8 billion Tylenol pills are taken every year. Acetaminophen also is found in combination with other over-the-counter medications; some 200 or so over-the-counter medications contain acetaminophen. Too much Tylenol can overwhelm the liver’s defenses and cause liver damage or even liver failure. Liver failure can be fatal; the only known cure for acute liver failure is a liver transplant. Consuming more than two servings of alcohol per day increases the risk of liver failure from acetaminophen.
A Tylenol lawyer can help people who have been injured when taking Tylenol (acetaminophen) or a non-Tylenol brand of acetaminophen. A Tylenol lawyer is experienced in dealing with personal injury and product liability cases and can help people who have been injured by acetaminophen obtain financial compensation for their medical bills and pain and suffering.
The Effects of Tylenol Overdosing
The troub
le with Tylenol is that it is easy to overdose on without realizing it. The manufacturer’s recommended dosages state that adults should take no more than a total of 4,000 mg of acetaminophen a day (that’s eight 500mg extra strength tablets); recently, because of no decrease in the number of accidental overdoses, the FDA decided that the now recommende
d amount is too much acetaminophen per day. The FDA now recommends that healthy adults take no more than 3,250 mg of Tylenol (acetaminophen) per day (a 24 hour period). People
consuming three or more servings of alcohol per day should take even less.
Too much Tylenol can overwhelm the liver’s defenses and cause liver damage or even liver failure. Liver failure can be fatal; the only known cure for acute liver failure is a liver transplant. Consuming more than two servings of alcohol per day increases the risk of liver failure from acetaminophen.
Other factors make some people more susceptible to liver failure from acetaminophen. Older people and people with kidney disease do not process Tylenol as well as other people do. Frail, thin people, as many elderly people are, do not process acetaminophen as easily as healthier people. Fasting or being on a strict diet also impedes the processing of Tylenol. Taking certain other medications with Tylenol also increase the danger.
In addition, many people are not aware of the danger of liver failure from Tylenol; thinking Tylenol is safe, they may pay little attention to label warnings and take too large of a dosage or take dosages too often. Sometimes package directions are confusing; this is a particular danger with children’s Tylenol, which is given by age and weight.
Medications, such as cold and sinus medications, which contain acetaminophen, can add to the risk of getting too much Tylenol. Many people take too much acetaminophen because they take Tylenol tablets and then take acetaminophen in another form, not realizing the danger. Because the name Tylenol may not be on the label of the other medicines containing acetaminophen, people sometimes do not realize that they are taking the same drug.
If you or someone you love has been injured because of a Tylenol overdose, certain facts may make you eligible for financial compensation. Contact Newsome today and one of our experienced Tylenol lawyers will advise you on your legal rights and help you get any financial compensation coming to you. Simply fill our case evaluation form to the right of the screen and an experienced Tylenol lawyer will contact you and discuss the possibility of financial compensation for your injury.
Avoid a Tylenol overdose:
- Always read and follow the directions on the label; if in doubt consult a pharmacist or doctor.
- Do not take more of any medication than recommended.
- Be careful when taking other medications along with Tylenol; make sure they do not contain acetaminophen and that they are safe to take with Tylenol. Ask your pharmacist to make sure.
- If you have any indication of a problem, seek emergency medical help. Make sure the doctors know what medications you have been taking; this can help them diagnose the problem. Liver damage can be stopped and even reversed if caught early enough.
Signs of a Tylenol overdose:
- Nausea and vomiting. Older people may not have nausea or vomiting; they may simply appear confused or not “themselves”.
- A period of time in which the person feels okay after the nausea and vomiting.
- Within 48 to 72 hours after the initial overdose, signs of liver damage show up in blood tests; unfortunately, not realizing the problem, many people do not go to the doctor until too late.
When seeking medical attention for a Tylenol overdose or any other kind of overdose, it is crucial that the doctors and nurses know exactly what medications you were taking and how much.
If you or someone you love has been injured because of a Tylenol overdose, certain facts may make you eligible for financial compensation. Contact Newsome today and one of our experienced Tylenol lawyers will advise you on your legal rights and help you get any financial compensation coming to you. Simply fill our case evaluation form to the right of the screen and an experienced Tylenol lawyer will contact you and discuss the possibility of financial compensation for your injury.
