Tylenol?

[Passenger Mark]

OK all you med experts....

I have heard that Tylenol is bad for you. Hurts your liver, etc.

Is that true?

If I have a headache, backache, etc... I will usually take Ibuprofen. But sometimes Tylenol is the only thing that will work.

[noflyingfan]

Here's what the folks at WebMD have to say (http://www.webmd.com/content/article/124/115694).

[Insert Clever Name Here]

Feel free to take it Mark. Just follow the instructions and do not exceed them. This study is not anything new or breaking, it's just a 'factoid' that the liver enzymes are elevated by taking this drug more than we thought (so if a patient comes into an ER, you can figure this into why certain labs are elevated and not others).

Remember, ANY drug or ANYTHING in nature is a toxin in the right amount. Tylenol is cheap and very popular so it is widely studied and has a good safety background to it. If a person were to get toxic, they can be given Mucomyst to de-toxify their systems.

The liver enzymes that were found elevated, the ALT's, would be concerning IF the liver was being damaged. But it doesn't - it elevates because it is having to clear out more Tylenol than it is used to seeing, but then goes back to normal. Elevated liver enzymes, in this case, does NOT mean liver damage. Anyway, the enzymes later fell to normal again.

All of this happened after taking 4,000 mg of Tylenol for a week or two. If the pain requires you do do this, there are better choices to use instead of Tylenol.

If you take it normally and as prescribed, no problem. I prefer Ibuprofen often to Tylenol as well, but will take Tylenol if ibuprofen doesn't work (sometimes one works better than the other in people, for unknown reasons).

If someone already has liver failure, this is a bad drug to be taking. Also keep it out of reach of children!

Of course, this is a general FYI response and if you have specific questions please see your doctor... I'll be glad to answer any questions but I don't want to cross the "medical advice" line on this board

[Jeff California]

The cases leading to liver failure involve people with liver problems who take way too many tylenols at once.

[tabbygirl]

I panicked some time ago when I first heard about this because I used to get migraines and I took way too much Extra-Strength Excedrin (aspirin and acetominophen), way too often and for way too long. I talked to my doctor about it and she pretty much shrugged it off. I had my yearly bloodwork that week and she was right, my liver function was fine.

(I am NOT advocating exceeding the recommended dosage, by the way! I avoid the stuff now. But I just wanted to share that my liver survived my stupidity.)

[Passenger Mark]

Thanks folks for the helpful info! :thumbsup: