Tylenol: How Much Is Too Much?

Marijke Durning, RN — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:03:20 +0000

Have a headache? Take a Tylenol or some other brand of acetamenophen, right? Howe about a toothache? Menstrual cramps? Broken arm?

There are many types of over-the-counter pain relievers available to the consumer, namely acetaminophen, ibuprofen (Advil) and ASA (Aspirin). And, for many people, they’re very effective. The problem is, who is monitoring how much of these medications they take and how often?

It must be safe!

“I can buy it off the shelf, it’s got to be safe.” Sound familiar? That’s the way many people think about medications they can just walk in and buy. That’s not always the case. Yes, the medication itself is usually safe for most people if taken in the right way, but that leaves a lot of “ifs” in there, doesn’t it?

A major problem with drugs like Tylenol is the damage they can do to your liver. This is why there are warnings on the labels not to take more than a certain amount over a certain time period. A warning that is easy to ignore.

What can happen?

Liver failure is what can happen. Overdosing on acetaminophen can result in your liver shutting down. Once the liver stops working, it generally doesnt’ begin again. This means, if you’re lucky, you’ll be a candidate for a liver transplant. If you’re not, you may die.

But the FDA said it’s safe.

It is safe – within those parameters. But, now, even an FDA panel is taking another look at the recommended maximum doses of acetaminophen. This is the result of thousands of cases of liver failure every year, and up to 200 deaths. They are recommending that the FDA lower the recommended daily doses.

What about other medications with acetaminophen?

There lies the rub. Other medications, namely cough and cold medicines, and flu medicines contain some amount of acetaminophen. What often happens is people take one of these medications and then a short while later, a Tylenol for a headache or for added relief. This is one of the most common ways of getting too much acetaminophen in your body.

What can we do?

Read labels. Read what is in them and how much you are allowed to take per day. Don’t go over that. Take into account the other medications you’re using. And, if the problem for which you’re aking the acetaminophen isn’t going away, you may consider trying another type or you should speak with your doctor.