Danger of Acetaminophen

[Brother Ben]

FDA May Restrict Acetaminophen
Advisers Tell the Agency to Lower Over-the-Counter Dose of Popular Pain Drug

By Kathryn Foxhall

WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDJuly 1, 2009 --
The FDA should put new restrictions on acetaminophen, an advisory committee recommended Tuesday, saying the move would protect people from the potential toxicity that can cause liver failure and even death.

The FDA does not have to follow its advisory committees’ recommendations, but it usually does. It will likely be months before the FDA makes a final decision on the drug.

You might not know "acetaminophen," because that's the drug's generic name. One of the nation’s top drugs for pain relief, acetaminophen is found in many over-the-counter products -- including Tylenol, aspirin-free Anacin, Excedrin, and numerous cold medicines. It's also found in many prescription drugs.

For the rest of this very informative article by WebMD Health News, go here.

[George]

This is a very, very dangerous over-the-counter medication. I am prohibited from taking it because the same enzyme in the liver that metabolizes my cancer medication also metabolizes acetaminophen. It can cause the cancer meds to go haywire.

I had a friend who died from an acetaminophen overdose some years ago. He had a toothache. He was eating Tylenol like popcorn. When he got an appointment with the dentist and got in his car to drive over there. While he was on the freeway his liver shut down. If the acetaminophen had not caused his liver to shut down, thus killing him, the resulting car accident most surely would.


Taking acetaminophen over an extended period of time can be more toxic to your liver than the habitual use of alcohol.

In Christ,
George

[kjvsteve]

It's usually called 'Paracetamol' in the UK, and it is very common.

I don't know why people feel the need to take these pills for the slightest reason

There doesn't seem to be much education going about, warning people of the dangers either.
I know my brother used to take more than the recommended dose - he has some idea that it is a weak, over-the-counter drug and will probably make no difference whether he takes 2, 3 or 4 of them.

I try to avoid all painkillers if I can help it.
For such as a headache, I find a drink of water and a lie down is the best cure

[George]

I don't know why people feel the need to take these pills for the slightest reason[/quote]

It is a reason of economics Brother Steve. The manufacturers of Tylenol have paid many millions of dollars to doctors and hospitals to recommend Tylenol. It is supposedly a better alternative than aspirin. However recent research has shown that plain old aspirin is much safer than is acetaminophen.

In Christ,
George

[Brother Ben]

Darlene and I were out on a date and we were listening to a conservative speaker on TalkRadio and a commercial came on warning about "generics" and you can only be safe taking the "real thing." Of course the real thing was Tylenol. They have the same active ingredient as the "generics," yet they warn against using them and instead using the "brand name." Yep, Bro. George, it's all about money.

[kjvsteve]

All this talk about money... puts me in mind of a certain aspartame!