Tylenol and the liver

[Tummy13]

I was doing a bunch of reading and I'm also in the healthcare and while chatting with one of my coworkers she was going on about how it can be fatal if to much has been taken.  For me I take them but never over the recommended dosage.  They say for acetaminophen = 4000mg is the maxium for 24 hours.  So will this still cause liver damage or failure if taken as supposed to???

[Amphitrite]

Using it over a span of time regularly acetaminophen can cause damage to your liver and kidney even at recommended doses.
So many people use it daily but it's really a OTC that's supposed to be used for short spans of time or ever so often when it's really needed.
I'm not sure how long it would take to cause failure if it's taken at prescribed doses, probably quite a while. But the real danger is that there's no comming back from acetaminophen caused liver or kidney function or decline.
If someone should reach that point there's little that can be done. Especially in OD situations when someone takes too much percocet or lortab and OD's on the OTC painkiller in it. As soon as that happens it's effects are irriversable.

[Tummy13]

With taking the 4000mg dose in one day for a few years, and stopping now the liver can repair  itself???  I usually take 3 at a time about 3 times a day....I don't drink alcohol or take anything else that I would be concerned about my liver but now I'm just worrying with the long term use..  

[Amphitrite]

I would try to cut your dose back. 4000mg a day is a heafty dose. It's safe to take 3 at a time once and a while. Probably for 3 days at a time but then agter the three days you should really take a break. If your needing that much could you go see your doc and ask about some NSAIDS. NSAIDS do come with some risks and are used for short spans of time, maybe a few months at a time in some cases longer under a docs suoervision but prescribed NSAIDS are strong and will more than likely dcrease your need for all that tylenol. Most NSAIDS I believe you can take only once a day.

I really ment to say kidney functun is irriversable in many cases when the kidneys are damaged by too much tylenol. The liver can repair itself under some very hard circumstances but at some point after years and years of having to keep up with repairing itself the liver can't always bounce back and function can decline. If you accidently OD then they can't bring you back the same way they can in the cases of other OD's. Tylenol OD's are irriversable.

Def speak with your doc about NSAIDS they're safer then Tylenol when you need something on a daily basis and stronger but they do come with their own risks and shouldn't be taken for long bouts without a docs supervision. NSAIDS are just stronger versions of Ibprophen.

I hope you do cut your dose down just to be on the safe side.

[tryintobeatoxyaddiction]

Read this Tummy13 - please.  It is an oversight to think that your "daily" dose is within the acceptable dose your body can take.  What I mean is that acetiminiphen (Tylenol) does not exit your body in 24 hours.  People think that because it is a new day they dont have the Tylenol in their system from the day before - WRONG.  Tylenol "stacks up" in your system because it does not get metabolized for up to 3-4 days after you ingest.  So if you take 3000mg a day for 3 days by the third day you will have 9000mg in your system playing havoc with your renal system.  Many people do not know this!  I cannot cite the source but I have heard that aceto. overdose is the LEADING cause of OD in the states right now - it just isnt in the media because most deaths that occur are diagnosed by the root cause - say ie. cancer - but the "failure" of the body at death can be OD of the tylenol contribution - because the patient had taken too much.  Your 4000mg intake per day is an official OD by itself! - let alone the past days mg still in your system on top of the 4000mg you took!

[tryintobeatoxyaddiction]

In addition - let me tell you this story -   Coming off oxy - I was in pain so I decided to take massive amounts of Tylenol to combat the WD effects.  My stomach was in so much pain and my kidneys were screaming - so I read the info on Acetiminphen and realized that with the extra strength pills AND Benalyn I was over 12,000mg ingestion.  I was about triple what an OD is.  Some flu syrup remedies contain 1000mg aceto. on their own per "capful".  It doesnt take long to get into the danger zone.  Anyhow, with my body screaming I called the poison control center and was told to go to E.R. immed.  This was a scary and embarassing situation.  I thought I was a smart guy! - I am here now and without immediate liver/kidney damage but you having all this aceto. over the years in the doses you are taking is not good for you!

[Tummy13]

Thanks for the info..... So then what about people who are taking 20-30 a day for years?

[Tummy13]

1 tylenol #1 is 300mg of acetaminophen and taking 10-12 a day for pain is at most 3600mg?  Am I doing the math right??  

[Tummy13]

Yikes ya I can see though how when also taking other medications like cold / flu stuff can also add on to that.  I don't ever use that stuff and If I do I read the bottle to see if what's in it.  The only medication I use with acetaminophen is tylenol and I don't think I've ever taken more than 10-12 in one day.  

[tryintobeatoxyaddiction]

I dont know personally anyone who takes 20-30 tabs a day for years so I cant say what effects they have seen/experienced.  I would guess to say they are definitely doing damage to their renal system and may have long-term damage in their later years.  Damage isn't always visible at the time - but one thing is for sure - no doctor would ever suggest that much aceto. intake so anyone who ingests these amounts are definitely abusing.  Your math is correct that each (reg. strength) aceto. @ 300mg X 12 pills is 3600mg ingestion for that 24 hr period, however, you have to add in the TOTAL mg ingested I believe over the past 36 hour period to get the real mg amount in your system.  (Aceto. does not metabolize into a waste/inert product within 24 hrs.) This info/math should be done by an expert because I believe other variables (body weight, metabolism, age etc. etc.) should be factored in.  I am not an MD - just an informed addict with experience in OD'ing on acetominiphen.  And you are right - its the "other" pain/flu/cough meds added on top of the tabs that can get people into trouble.  Aceto. is a common addition to other active ing. meds and some of the OTC syrups contain very high doses.  

[wildwoodone]

When you say Tylenol #1 does that mean it has codeine in it??

[Tummy13]

Yes, 8mg.....we get it over the counter in Canada.  You don't hear to often over this way of alot of the pain meds that I've been reading on this forum for.  I'm sure they have different names but it seems to me that in the States there are ALOT!  The biggest thing you see here is Tylenol #3...the most commonly used lol.  However in the emergency I occasionally see oxycodone prescribed but not very often.  I have however seen a guy having withdrawls from it and it didn't look very nice :(  So what would Vicodin be in correlation to Tylenol #3.  Knowing that it is a whole lot stronger I'm sure but i'm guessing with any medication the kidney and liver filter everything and I'm sure are overworked with any kind of overuse.  Seems that alcohol is the worst of them all.  It's pretty awful seeing someone with cirrhosis and having a bloated tummy :(  I got myself all freaked out now reading this forum!!!  Now I have a stomach ache and think its my kidney or liver when its probably just gas LOL....oh geez , on that note I think I'll just stick to my occasional tylenol #1 and stop reading the internet to diagnosis!!!!  

[Amphitrite]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but I'm glad your scared. Acetaminophen overdose is the leading cause in the US of acute rapid liver failure.
And I don't want anything like that to happen to you if you can avoid it. So many people have no idea how dangerous acetaminophen can be.

They'v e begun to prescribe short acting pain killers like percocet and Lortab without the acetaminophen in it for people who have to take pain meds on a daily basis.
It's much safer. Docs over here have begun to stop prescribing pain meds with APAP(acetaminophen) in them for people who need to take them longer than a few weeks or a month.

Just make sure you look into other options so you lower your chances of causing yourself some really severe future problems. But you are right, don't use the internet to diagnose yourself. People end up scaring themselves silly because you can really lead yourself to believe anything you read is true for you.

Your probably okay. But nothing wrong with ditching the tylenol and getting a few blood tests to make sure your fine:)

Be well, Amph

[worried878]

I also found this interesting..our bodies also wd from the massive tyelnol we ingested for years..adding a bit for a week or so each day is not a bad idea a substance doctor told me,,he starts all patients on methadone or sub with a small dose of ylenol like 750 mg a day for a while

[Tummy13]

Thanks Amphitrite!  I hear ya!

[nursegirl6572]

Tylenol is a great drug in moderation, and for brief periods of time.

Also, what a lot of people don't realize is JUST how many OTC meds (ie cold meds, etc) have acetaminophen in them.  It is always good to read labels before taking an OTC med and stick to the daily maximums printed on the labels...they are there for a reason.

A few days of taking the max dose of tylenol in a normal average person really shouldn't present a problem.  The liver is responsible for metabolizing a majority of meds....and the liver IS a very "hearty" organ...meaning it does truly take a lot of abuse to cause problems...but sadly...once you have liver issues.....you could end up with CHRONIC issues.....the liver does not always have the ability to regenerate.  It depends on the how significant the damage is...and where the organ is affected, etc.

Tylenol ONLY in moderation...never over the max daily dose...and never for more than a few days in a row.  If something is going on that requires that much medication...then it is wise to look into other options.