Acetaminophen, a common ingredient in OTC drugs - such as Tylenol, Excedrin, and NyQuil - is linked to the rising cases of liver disease. Studies show that acetaminophen las led to 80,000 ER visits, 26,000 hospitalizations, and 500 deaths per year.
This chemical is often used as an ingredient for powerful painkillers, including Percocet and Vicodin. Even when used as prescribed, acetaminophen exposure may cause liver damage if used for long term.
And don't think low doses of acetaminophen are harmless. Even in low doses, acetaminophen remains a threat to liver health and it is hard to avoid it because acetaminophen is so widely used.
Long term acetaminophen consumption is dangerous even at prescribed low doses. What’s more, at slightly higher-than-recommended dosages over time, acetaminophen can be even more deadly than one massive overdose.
Most of the overdose reports have been accidental, often by using more than one pharmaceutical containing acetaminophen at the same time. Some have been intentionally self-destructive, as in suicidal. But the fact remains: acetaminophen is a liver toxin. Those with liver conditions, such as hepatitis or fatty liver should avoid acetaminophen products completely.
As reported by a Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) study has determined that taking acetaminophen products even as directed causes liver damage. With all the toxins in our environment that our livers and kidneys need to handle, we don’t need to damage either.
Recently, it’s been discovered that mixing alcohol with acetaminophen pharmaceuticals could be even more disastrous. That includes taking Tylenol or Excedrin to remedy hangover headaches the day after drinking too much. Not only is this a whammy on the liver, it can also induce kidney disease.
Image courtesy of: Loren Zemlicka
