I thought tylenol bad for liver

[chellski]

It seems alot of people mention taking tylenol.  I thought tylenol was not good for your liver.  Am i mistaken?  My doctor mentioned advil for joint pain.

[cuteus]

it depends on the dr. some prefer one to the other.  Tylenol does nothing for me. I take ibuprofen and vicoprofen, a more effective combo for me.

[LvdByGod!]

some drs believe one is worse over the other...and it also has alot to do with whether or not the liver is compensated or decompesated as to whether it can handle the pain killers...

for sure too much tylanol causes liver damage...but what is too much for each individual?  and some these days say no nsaids at all with liver disease...

good luck figuring it out...hopefully someone here knows more in depth about these issues....

[kennedge]

it also thought that ibuprofen type products can suppress platelett production which on tx is not so good

[hep62pj]

Tylenol is fine but in high doses yes it can damage the liver, especially when combined with alcohol.  Just do not exceed the recommended dosage - I would never take more than 4 xtra strength a day when I was on tx

[cigaso]

My dr tells me no more than 1000mg a day of Tylenol and no more than 800mg of Ibuprofin a day. He also said don't take it unless I absolutely need to. He's a GI.

[hep62pj]

my dr's (there are a team of them at the university hospital I go to) are all hepatologists - which means they specialize in diseases of the liver.  That is what you need if you have this; not just a plain old g.i. doctor, they are more interested in colonoscopy - no disrespect meant, it is just that I think a dr. who focuses on the liver and ONLY the liver is more what you need here...

Remember that every single thing you put in your body will go thru your liver eventually, everything and anything can do harm if there is too much of it and the liver cannot process it out. So don't worry about a few tylenol once in a while if you need it, especially if you are on tx because you can't take aspirin or ibuprofren then because the tx is already thinning your blood and these can make it worse, but tylenol does not, that is why they tell you tylenol when you are on tx

[Oreos]

My Dr. told me no more than 1000 mg Tylenol per day.  He did not want me taking Advil as it can thin the blood and my platletts were pretty low throughout treatment.  Also told me that Tylenol causes liver damage when taken with alcohal (alcohol) - no problem, LOL.  Too much Advil can also damage the liver.

[KICKED]

The doctor told me that I can take up to 4 t3's for headaches.  The combination of alcohol and tylenol is what makes it toxic to the liver.

[snook_man]

Nope, sorry.. Tylenol itself is liver toxic.. But it is exactly like ever other drug in the world, it effects every person different. My wife has seen people come into the ER with liver failure, caused by doses of only 800 mg of tylenol.
Dr Sciff at the Schiff liver institute in Miami reported the effects of tylenol years ago. He also reported that the antibiotic Augmentin can have the same effect.
Personally, I take tylenol only if needed.. And I usually only take one or two at a time and only if I have a fever..

[chellski]

it seems when i take all info given - one this is clear - too much of anything is not good.  I haven't taken anything yet except my nightly benedryl, but it seems some mornings i feel feverish (no acutal fever) My doc, too is in a g.i. office; he does however specialize in hep/liver problems. He came to this area (local suburbian hosp) to work with hep-c patients.  he's very caring, said from day 1 that we would becoming very close friends.  i will take in all adv given when time comes for tylenol, advil, or whatever.
thanks again everyone

[bon_vivant]

I have a strange thought on this...

If you have a fever... that's the interferon, or if your sick & you get a fever, then that's just your body producing natural interferon... so unless it's HIGH.... why take anything?

As per Tylenol,  I would think that you definitely need to exercise caution on that, because it would seem that would need to be individually accessed according to the extent of liver damage that is preexisting...

I realize that  Dr's do say that it is okay in lower dosages, even for us heppers, however if you KNOW that you actually have extensive damage, then why not use a more liver friendly alternative?

I won't allow a Tylenol in my house, but that is for other "Extreme" reasons involving one of my children several years back when she was going thru an identity crises with the onset of puberty... That child is LUCKY to be alive, had she not have gotten to the hospital when she did, then she'd either be dead or in hopefully fortunate enough to be in line for a liver transplant... that's how I unfortunately got educated on Tylenols effects on the liver... & trust me that 4 days in intensive care was NOT Pretty!

Many adults actually "accidentally" over-dose on them as they seem to think they can take as many EXTRA STRENGTH... as the regular... & they don't even realize that they have taken too much till it's too late.

Also... can you imagine how many folks out there unknowingly take them when they are drinking to prevent a "hangover" the next day.... Whew... talk about potential LETHAL... My God "if" these folks only KNEW what they are doing to themselves!!!

However, that's just like I don't understand why a Dr would prescribe the Wellbuterin as an anti-depressant to heppers either.. when he could choose the more liver friendly Zoloft???

I have little to no liver damage, & in the process of seeking Wellbuterin as a "Stop Smoking Aid" is how we accidentally discovered my diagnosis... & regardless of the fact that my liver isn't damaged... the Wellbuterin (I was told) was not an option!! ????

I have seen a few during during my tx journey, that are on the Wellbuterin as the AD's & take Tylenol for the fever, aches & pains..... taht's a double whammy & just seems "Counter-Productive" to me!!!

Anyone else got any thoughts on this... cause I have always been curious, & stumped about how this is allowed to happen!!!!
:)

[bluepeng]

I'm always interested in this topic -- I'm gonna wing this.  Tylenol depletes a protective enzyme named Glutathione.  When a threshold is reached, free radical damage begins.  Depending on how depleted your Glutathione levels are, you can end up in liver failure land .. or bounce back to a complete recovery -- yes, most people who go this far come back and the liver is normal.  I thought 8G of acetaminophen was needed to take you OUT.   However, this crapola builds up in your system and your liver must deal with it.  I wouldn't take more than 2000mg / day and even then taking it for more than weeks on end probably doesn't help your liver.  

NAC is the antidote for tylenol poisoning .. I think they call it Mucomyst.   N-Acytl-Cysteine or something.   This anti-oxidant protects your liver and inhibits the depletion of the protective Glutathione.   Your Glutathione levels can be boosted slightly by eggs and dairy products.   I also heard some stuff that people should take an NAC upplement with their tylenol for added protection -- not sure how this interacts with tx however.  

Nobody here mentioned kidney damage either from long-term use, but this is still being studied.  

Let's ask ourselves this question .. we've heard about all these stars and people popping percodans and vics like skittles -- like  30 / day.  Somehow, they survive.

[carolhab]

I also was told no more than 1000mg a day - I was taking tylenol PM in the beginning on shot night, but cut down and try not to take it at all anymore - sometimes I get real bad headaches, and only then will I taken 1 500mg cap, which seems to help some.

[chellski]

this thread turned into pandora's box...but i was sure my doc told me no tylenol.  However bon,  i have been on wellbutrin b4 diag. for Anti dep; was not told this was not liver friendly...should i talk about changing anti depressants?? I went on anti-dep's 12 years ago when our son died.  I have been on and off ever since...def on again since my husband died 2 years ago...my 17 yr old also when she was 14 od'd on tylenol....my husband was diagnosed w/hep c and KIDNEY damage 5 yrs b4 he passed,..he did rec'v live transplant donated by his nephew had a few good years and eventually started to reject and sepsis set in...a hard time to be 14 anyway and with dad sick, dialysis is not pretty either, I didn't understand why all this was happening to us (after a fairy-tale type childhood i had never experienced death, or illness - (except for old uncle albert who had the giant ears) and then in my 20's reality hit.  my kids however have grown up with death (their brother) and illness (dad) maybe its healthy for them to experience it now.  i just dont know.

[Honey15637]

My first dr told me ibuprofen only,,,no tylenol so I took that as needed my first 6 months of tx.  Changed to new dr six month into tx,,,and he said no ibuprofen,,,,only tylenol! LOL  Soooo who knows,  I took a little of each but tylenol has never been a great headache reliever for me so am more likely to take ibuprofen.

[cuteus]

A hepatologist IS a GI with additional training in liver conditions.  
My dr told me to take whatever works for pain, if you take tylenol and it only relieves you for two hrs, you either have to take more or wait in pain for the next dose. Take whatever is the most effective so that you do not have to take too many doses. My hepatologist did not balk at the ibuprofen I take after explaing to him that it was wither over 1000mg a day for tylenol (which is ineffective in pain caused by imflammation) or only 800mg of ibuprofen daily if taken with the vicoprofen. find what works for you effectively and forget about the marketing.

[bon_vivant]

Bluepeng=
Yea, it "is" called Mucomyst… given every 4 hours around the clock for no less than a period of 72 hours…. That stuff is NASTY, & smells like Rotten Eggs…. I slept on the floor next to her bed for 4 days straight, & it made me gag every time they brought it into the room… YUCK… Oh, & they did mention possible kidney failure too!

Chellski= LoL… No Not Pandora’s Box… that’s what makes this site so informational… I am very interested in what others have to say about this.

I “WOULD” have normally said…. that possibly because you have taken them for 12 years… that it just kind of slide past the doc because you were already on them, & that when they where originally prescribed, that no one was aware of your Hep C diagnosis yet… HOWEVER… I don’t think that is the case at all, because I used to know several in here that take those.

But seriously Wellbuterin is NOT really the friendliest on the ol liver.

Let me explain….Thank-Goodness I had a great GP that did blood work on me … or I WOULDN’T have discovered my own diagnosis… upon my initial visit, she went ahead & prescribed the wellbuterin while we waited for my labs & I took them for 10 days… then she called me back in because my original labs showed my alt, & ast to be slightly out of range… they were:
ALT 68
AST 35
we assumed it was from phentermine, & b12 I had been taking from a weight-loss program called physicians weight loss center… so she pulled me off of those, & called me back in for more labs 10 days later with my only taking the wellbuterin…

Within that next 10 days, they shot up to:
ALT:114
AST:87

Which is higher than they have EVER been…
So she called & immediately pulled me off the wellbuterin, & informed me she took the liberty of running hep test, & I came back as “non a… non b”

& so the saga goes…. More test & the diagnosis of hep c with a vl of 4million 607 thousand 75

Then when they put me on the AD’s for TX I specifically asked for the again for the wellbuterin, in hopes that I could at least have the added benefit of its wonderful not smoking sx …. I was told NO WAY Hosea!!! Then told that Zoloft was the most liver friendly option available!

So… Hummm… I’m confused… I still would prefer the wellbut as although its been approx 6 months smoke free… I still CRAVE them!

BTW... I am sorry about your son... I can NOT imagine the loss of a child!

[chellski]

blue-p:  taste the rainbow! what about percs & vics?  i dont know much about them either;  liver friendly or not?  are they not narcotics?  BTW:  I am a star! lol
cuteus:  what is vicoprofen?  
bon_v:  i guess what i mean is im intrigued when a seemingly simple topic like tylenol can produce soooooo many different opinions, statistics, facts, etc,.  i totally enjoy a topic that takes off; i feel i'm really learning and the people here are so sincere and sweet.  I very new here but like someone else said on another thread i feel the need to come here at least 2-3 times a day; the need is incredibly strong. NOBODY can sympathize or understand - i myself am just starting.
i'm definitely talking to doc asap about new AD!!!!!
later

[cuteus]

it is like vicodin, but with ibuprofen instead of tylenol.

Oxycontin is an analgesic processed mainly throught the kidneys.

[susan400]

When I first started this whole process of treating my Hep C, I went to a gastro. who told me to take Ibuprofen (Advil) as often as I wanted to every 4-6 hrs.  I got so sick (even taking w/food).  I puked and it had a blood tinge to it.  This same feeling had occurred in the past with Celebrex, Vioxx and aspirin.  So, then, it was no NSAIDS and no aspirin.  The next gastro. said it was perfectly fine to take 2 extra strength Tylenol's with my shot every night and he also gave me a prescription for Ultram (which contains no Tylenol).   It's Ultracet that contains the Tylenol, not Ultram.  Any way, at least that didn't make me have a problem.  I can't take anti-D's so, at least this Tylenol/Ultram choice made treatment bearable.

Good luck

**  I'm having outpatient surgery today.  

Susan

[bon_vivant]

Hope this finds you recouperating comfortably today, & that all went well with the surgery!

:)