Tylenol

[Amerabrit]

Tylenol:  From what I'm reading here, it would seem Tylenol is a popular pain reliever on this forum which concerns me.  My Dr. told me specifically NOT to use Tylenol, he said it is harmful to the liver and that I should use Ibuprofen instead?  For those of you using Tylenol, please check with your Drs.

Chocolate:  I've been eating chocolate (a lot and after 7:00pm:) to keep weight on but I'm also dealing on and off with insomnia.  I can't quite believe it's taken me four months of treatment to sort out the caffeine connection..  DUH!*!  Still, if my confession helps anyone else....:)

[hph5477]

I don't know about everyone else but I take Tylenol per the dr's instructions.  In fact, I've pulled out my original paperwork from the dr and it says to avoid NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, indomethacin, and ketoprofen.........and to only use these after consulting with your dr.

Guess everyone is different.

[cuteus]

same here, my hepatologist stated no Ibuprofen or NSAIDs, only Tylenol, but I told her that Tylenol was crappy medicine and did not work for me. she reluctantly said ok to advil, plus I trust tylenol less as far as damage to liver goes.

[Tony-z]

One of the reasons that the Dr's don't want us taking Ibuprofen or NSAIDs in average to large amounts are because they are blood thinners, which can alter the reliability of blood test also thin the blood, which we don't want because of the low platlets and low RBC due to the Riba.
This is what my DR told me.
I agree that Tylenol is no good for joint pain or almost any pain for that matter, but does reduce fever. For pain, my Dr gave me Oxycodone without Tylenol for the more serious pain as needed, plus I can use very small amounts of ibuprofen for general pain, and tylenol for fever but only low doses.

  <B>I would like to hear what other peoples Dr told them!</B>



                  TonyZ

[honey1616]

My dr. said ibuprofen only LOL And No tylenol,,, which works for me because I never have luck with tylenol and ibuprofen always gets rid of headaches quick for me.  Its weird how they all say something different but I guess we just need to watch our intake on anything because nothing to relief pain is going to be great on the liver.  I try on bad weeks to take about 2 a day if needed...maybe mid afternoon just to get over that hump of the day and feel decent.

[gonagetbetr]

My doc told me absolutely positively no tylenol, or ibuprophin.
he even told me no asprin excedrin nothing
I told him that I get a monthly migraine ( you know girls )
and he said in that case I could take 1 excedrin migraine.
I have thought about this alot since everyone is taking something

post to anyone

I saw that there are studies avaliable but most of them are only avaliable to those that have never treated before.
I have never treated before, but I do have insurance do you all in your opinions see any benifit of a study?
I think maybe they may be bbetter for those with no insurance but I would like to do whatever meds are the most effective
geno 1 f4 fibrosis poss cirhosis per scans on liver 1.2 mil vl

I have looked at the websites but no where does it tell me if peginterferion is better or worse than pegasys with ribo for both
any opinions would be appreciated

[Fubarcat]

My GI said to go ahead and take Tylenol if needed.  I try not to take any OTC if I can absolutely avoid it, but I bet taking Tylenol only when necessary probably wouldn't hurt anything.  I think the docs just don't want us to take a lot of it (however much that is) on a daily basis.

[Slimbob]

Same here. Dr. said no blood thinners like ibprofren or asprin. The tylenol is bad if taken on a prolonged situation but I just confirmed with my GI Friday that 48 weeks is not that long if you don't take more than 6 a day and I only really take it on treatment day. I pretreat starting Friday morning and due the nasty Pegasys after dinner. It is amazing the difference on the days I forget to pretreat with the tylenol.

With the pretreatment, I can honestly say the achey joints is almost non-existent.

I'n on 25/48 and a zero VL. count. I'm hangin in ther for the duration.

Sorry to hear your first try didn't work. But this is so far!
Hang in there.
Good luck,
Bob R.

[glamazon]

My doctor prescribed Naprosyn ('script-strength Alleve) to deal with the aches of Tx. It didn't seem to adversely affect my LFTs nor did it exaccerbate any bleeding problems. It was really handy to have around when I broke my little toe last month.

I was a confirmed chocoholic before I started Tx. About three weeks into Tx I had a binge and it soon felt like a knife was stuck into my guts. I experiemented with smaller portions of chocolate over the next week and found that any amount, even sugar, gave me indigestion. So I gave up all of it. Except for a holiday season relapse, I have mostly eliminated sweets from my diet. As a result, I've lost *fifteen* pounds over the last year! I can fit into my old jeans again!!!

Plus, I'm now almost one year nicotine-free!

Christine

[raheem]

My doc told me NSAID's potentiate the effects of interferon and not to take them.  I never asked nor did he ever tell me anything about tylenol.

[honey1616]

Ouch!!  That doesn't sound fun!  Hope you get to feeling better!

[simpleman]

Doc told me tylenol only. No aspirin or ibuprofen because of bleeding. I developed gout and he prescribed vicodin which is hydrocodone and tylenol. I took a lot of them for a couple of months. Kinda got disappointed when my big toe didn't hurt. Must not be too bad, I cleared at 12 weeks and still clear 6 months post tx.

[Amerabrit]

I think after reading all of your comments, "less is more"  is the way to go...
Thanks all.

Scott:  Ouch!*!  feel better

Chevy; I like your color advise:)

[catherine194]

I have Darvocet, Lortab 7,5, Percocet 10, and Mepergan Fortis and Tylenol PM. I have been told I can take all of these. I also have Bextra which is a new anti-imflamatory. Maybe I get all of these because I am in advanced stage. I am not going to hurt and neither should anyone else. I told them addiction is the least of my worries and if they were that concerned then why was I not told how highly addictive Effexor is. The psychiatrist couldn't believe I got yanked off that drug especially since I was on 300mg and even then it couldn't keep at bay the homicidal and suicidal thoughts. One thing that has deeply bothered me is what the GI dr. put down on the Roche safety tracking form. He marked drugs and alcohol but in his H&P he wrote no useage. My care fell through the cracks and when my Hct was 24.3 and I was put on procrit and told to come back in 2 weeks. I had took only 1 shot because of the difficulty getting it approved and then Kroger getting it in stock. When I went back I collapsed in the security gaurd's arms and he carried me in semi-conscious. No one knew why I was there and someone got his medical assistant and she recognized me and stated she had not put that appointment in the computer. On top of it she put me in my car with my blood transfusions orders in my hand, rolled down the windows, and her parting words were "Don't pass out on the interstate" and I went through the most dangerous intersection there is. I got lost and was passing out and I would hear my grandmother telling me I had to wake up and at one point I woke up in time to keep from hitting a telephone pole head on. I exited off and was in some store with a Pakistanian going wild because I was going out. This black man lead the way and we were going 100 miles an hour and I will never forget hearing Motley Crue singing "Girls, Girls, Girls" and when we pulled up to the hospital he waved and disappeared before my eyes. He was an angel. If I had got on that jet with a Hct. of 15.4 I would had died. I had that horrifying hospitalization and have reported 4 nurses to the GA state board of nsg. and I am pushing for a full suspension. I wasn't very nice and went I got back you all know that I told Dr. L I would kill him where he stood and when she attempted to touch me I gave her the evil eye. After receiving a nasty e-mail which I have no memory of he found out about that appt.was not in the computer and she no longer works there. I do not like him and when I get my disability I am going after him. He said I am the 11th pt. he's had that could not tolerate tx and #1 in reactions. He said he knew instinctively I would and when I left I said I had to leave before I did something I would not regret. I hate to stay with him but to get that trial drug I have to. I also took my chart because that is what set me off on that visit reading the lies she had wrote. When I came back I looked gorgeous and he acts like he's got a crush on me and out the door I went with it. It pays to wear a black velve bustier with red roses. I have denied it and accused his office of loosing it. I have wanted to get this off my chest forever. I also reported that medical assistant for practicing outside her scope of practice. Hell hath no fury like a wronged hillbilly and her crzay ass hillbilly family. Thank you all for being here.

[cuteus]

catherine... all I can say is: where do you buy a black bustier with roses?   ;-}    

Can't really blame you for taking it, I probably would have also if I was in their hands.  We won't tell on you.

All;  we can request to read our full charts, someplaces want you to make an appt and want to have someone present when you do.   Of course you can have everything copied for only a buck or two a page, so If you have a large chart, bring some cash.   Or steal the darn chart.

[Struggler]

One of the extrahepatic manifestations of Hepatitis C is kidney disease. Ibuprofen can cause both Liver and Kidney damage. I found this on Janis's website under Warnings for all those who have Hepatitis.

Dr. Thomas Riley III, the medical director for the liver transplant program at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center at the Penn State Geinsinger Health System ways that patients with chronic hepatitis C experience a 10-fold rise in their enzymes after taking ibuprofen, suggesting significant liver injury.
He added that if too much medication is taken the patient risks speeding up the process of going from chronic hepatitis to cirrhosis of the liver.

http://www.janis7hepc.com/Symptoms.htm#Warnings%20to%20all%20those

The article is listed on the The American Journal of Gastroenterologies website but it's not accesable, it's from 1998.

http://www-east.elsevier.com/ajg/frames/search.htm

[Eyedeas]

Chocolate makes a much better pain reliever than any of those others!  I don't really care if it's bad for my liver!

Kim

[donAlfonso]

My doc says Tylenol is fine for me in small amounts, since my LFT's are okay.  I am not supposed to take Tylenol extra strength, however.  Ibuprofen, and all the NSAIDS (Celebrex, Aleve, Vioxx), are also processed in the liver, and also should be taken with care.  NSAIDs can cause bleeding, and also slow clotting time, so for those of us with low platelets etc., Tylenol may actually be the better choice.  Without taking one or the other, I know I could never tolerate this treatment, and I have to trust my doc that the trade-off is worth it.

dA

[britgirl]

I was under the care of a major hospital liver unit, and they said definitely no ibuprofen while on treatment.

[AK - Hepper]

Doc told me Tylenol, not more than 2 grams a day, i.e. 4 extra strengths.

[catherine194]

I bought that black velvet bustier at the Galleria Mall. One thing that has remained constant is my bust line. At 54 they still stand tall and proud and I have always liked wearing clothes that were slightly revealing. I have been pretty all my life and I know this sounds vain but I want to stay pretty the best I can. All of my doctors know this and I have another granuloma that has popped up on my face. I am having it took off. Even during that psychosis I was told I came in with full make-up, my long hair fixed, and dressed to the nines. I found out when a nurse asked me where I bought my clothes since I dress fashionably but age appropriate. I tool on down the road in my vintage Camaro and thank God I can. Prayers.

[willing]

indeed! here's a round of cheers for standing tall and proud. I can hear Indiana on his way now - you really shouldn't encourage him you know..

[Oreos]

My GI wants me on Tylenol only - no more than 4 extra strengths per day.  No Ibuprofen (causes me to swell up) or Aspirin (blood thinner).  Haven't had the need for anything stronger for fever / pain relief.

[Showboat]

My Doc said to only use acetaminophen, but I had to break down and do some Ibuprofen for my joint pain the last couple of days.

:::Catherine:::  You go, girl!!!  I wish I had the energy to dress up...lol....  I went to school for Fashion Design, and I before tx, I always dressed up, etc...now, I just grab my baseball cap, throw some sunglasses on, a little lip stick, and I always hope that I do not run into anyone I know.....(of course I always do when I look like that...it is the "Murphy's Law" (sp?) concept....  Hope you are feeling well.  I am glad that you got that "off your chest" (as you said) :>)

[Showboat]

Oh, my goodness......regarding my previous post....I DO wear clothes too with that baseball cap.....lol