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Over the Counter Drugs: The Toxicity of Acetamenophin
Virtually everyone has taken Tylenol® (or acetaminophen) at one point or another, whether it was to relieve a headache or symptoms of a cold. There are even cough and cold formulas for children. Tylenol® has been around since 1959 and according to www.Tylenol.com, it was that year that Tylenol® was approved for sale without a prescription, thus "changing the way people treat their aches, pains, and fever forever." Tylenol®, however, is just one brand name for acetaminophen. With something that has been around so long and become a common household name, you typically don't think of danger. Unfortunately, acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol® and other similar medicines, can be highly toxic when not properly used. So toxic, that on December 20, 2006, an issue of Time magazine included a warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the risk of an overdose of acetaminophen causing liver damage and even death.
According to the warning, more than 200 million people take acetaminophen each year. About 200 people a year also die from taking too much. Acetaminophen is available in 325-mg tablets and 500-mg tablets (which are most common). It is also found in many combination drugs for cough and cold remedies and also in opioid medications for severe pain.
The maximum daily dose for adults is four (4) grams. Two (2) 500-mg tablets equals one (1) gram. A few days of exceeding the maximum dose could lead to liver damage. Alcohol consumption and smoking would further increase the risk.
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