Acetaminophen Overdoses

Your liver is one of the most important organs in your body, and the largest in your abdomen. Its reddish color is due to its ability to contain a pint of blood at any one time. Every time we eat, breathe, drink or absorb anything, the liver is responsible for detoxifying, integrating, secreting, storing, digesting and many other processes to provide a homeostasis or balance to the rest of your body.

When your liver fails, all of the many wonderful things it does for your body fails too; the body goes out of balance, out of whack, and you will die. Several diseases lead to chronic liver failure, the major one being alcohol abuse. However, sometimes your liver becomes sick and dies suddenly. This is known as acute liver failure.

The most common form of acute liver failure is Tylenol overdosing. A longer, but more scientific name for Tylenol is acetaminophen. The longer name is important as most drugs which contain Tylenol, do not contain the word Tylenol, but Acetaminophen; therefore, it is important to be accustomed to this longer, but more prevalent word. Eight billion pills are sold annually to Americans, and it continues to be the most popular pain killer in the United States. However, not all is “Rosy” with this seemingly innocent drug. Statistics reveal that almost 500 deaths per year occur as a result of over-dosages, and 50,000 visits to the emergency room happen. Over 50% of these overdoses are accidental. They occurred as the person had absolutely no idea of the dosing limits per day of this drug.

Coupling the problem is that many other products one uses contain Acetaminophen. Cough medicines, pain medication, sinus and flu medication, and others often contain Acetaminophen. Consider, one tablespoon of Nyquil has 500 mg of Acetaminophen. When one adds an extra strength Acetaminophen, equal to 500 mg to this mixture, the problem advances. When one considers that the manufacturer states that anything over 4000 mg may result in an overdose, one begins to see a glimmer of the problem.

Additionally, alcohol even in moderate amounts potentiates the effect of Acetaminophen. Alcohol seems to tell the body to strengthen its ability to make by-products for elimination, but weakens the ability to detoxify drugs. Therefore, one doesn’t have to consume large amount of alcohol with Acetaminophen to cause an Acetaminophen overdose. Therefore, if a person has even 2 drinks, the manufacturer recommends limiting the daily dosage to 2000 mg (this is equal to 4 extra strength Acetaminophen). Physician’s caution one to avoid Acetaminophen totally, if they have 3 or more drinks a day. The by-products of cigarettes, and there are hundreds, are broken down and detoxified by the liver. Therefore, several scientists advocate serious restrictions on Acetaminophen for smokers, as well as drinkers.

An antidote exists for Acetaminophen overdoses; however, it must be administered within 16 hours of taking the medicine. And, if the person did not realize they took an overdose, nor has any symptoms (which frequently don’t occur with Acetaminophen overdoses), the time for saving a person passes. The person goes into what is termed fulminant liver failure; or liver failure which occurs weeks after the accident occurred, but once started, there is no way to stop the rapid liver failure leading to death.

Of heightened concern is that Acetaminophen may now be produced in 750 mg tablets, and also be mint flavored. How many more cases of liver failure which may result from this seemingly innocuous drug is unknown at this time; but more deaths are likely. Children are at higher risk, as their livers are smaller, and the amount of Acetaminophen ingested is also smaller. Therefore, extreme caution is needed when administering this drug to a child (Never give Acetaminophen to a child under 2 years old without a doctor’s order!).

Just in case, you still are unaware of all the products which contains Acetaminophen, this article leaves you with a list of just some of those products. Remember, the next time you have a headache, read the label carefully and only take the amount of Acetaminophen recommended; never exceed this dose. All drugs have side effects, and Acetaminophen is no exception. Acetaminophen is not an innocent drug.

Brand names

• Acephen®
• Anacin® Aspirin Free Maximum Strength Tablets®
• Capital® and Codeine
• Endocet®
• Excedrin P.M.® Caplets®
• Excedrin P.M.® Geltabs®
• Excedrin P.M.® Tablets
• Excedrin® Extra-Strength Caplets®
• Excedrin® Extra-Strength Tablets
• Excedrin® Migraine Caplets®
• Excedrin® Migraine Geltabs
• Excedrin® Migraine Tablets
• FeverAll® Children's
• FeverAll® Infants'
• FeverAll® Junior Strength
• Gelpirin® • Genapap®
• Genapap® Children's
• Genapap® Drops Infant's
• Genapap® Extra Strength Caplets®
• Genapap® Extra Strength Tablets
• Genapap® Gel-Coat Caplets®
• Genebs®
• Genebs® Extra Strength Caplets®
• Genebs® Extra Strength Tablets
• Goody's® Extra Strength Tablets
• Goody's® Fast Pain Relief Tablets
• Goody's® Headache Powders
• Liquiprin® Drops
• Roxicet®
• Supac®
• Tylenol® • Tylenol® Arthritis Pain Extended Relief Caplets®
• Tylenol® Meltaways Children's
• Tylenol® Concentrated Drops Infant's
• Tylenol® Extra Strength Adult
• Tylenol® Extra Strength Caplets®
• Tylenol® Extra Strength Gelcaps®
• Tylenol® Extra Strength Geltabs®
• Tylenol® Extra Strength Tablets
• Tylenol® Meltaways Junior Strength
• Tylenol® Suspension Children's
• Tylenol® with Codeine Elixir
• Tylenol® with Codeine No. 3
• Tylenol® with Codeine No. 4
• Tylox®
• Vanquish® Caplets®
• Wygesic®

Brand names of combination products

• Allerest® No Drowsiness containing Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
• Axocet® containing Acetaminophen and Butalbital
• Benadryl® Severe Allergy and Sinus Headache Maximum Strength Caplets® containing Acetaminophen, Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
• Bupap® containing Acetaminophen and Butalbital
• Dristan® Cold No Drowsiness Formula Maximum Strength Caplets® containing Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
• Duradrin® containing Acetaminophen, Dichloralphenazone, and Isometheptene Mucate
• Excedrin® Aspirin-Free Caplets® containing Acetaminophen and Caffeine
• Excedrin® Aspirin-Free Geltabs® containing Acetaminophen and Caffeine
• Excedrin® Quicktabs® containing Acetaminophen and Caffeine
• I.D.A.® containing Acetaminophen, Dichloralphenazone, and Isometheptene Mucate
• Midol® Menstrual Formula Maximum Strength Caplets® containing Acetaminophen, Caffeine, and Pyrilamine Maleate
• Midol® Menstrual Formula Maximum Strength Gelcaps® containing Acetaminophen, Caffeine, and Pyrilamine Maleate
• Midol® PMS Maximum Strength Caplets® containing Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, and Pyrilamine Maleate
• Midol® PMS Maximum Strength Gelcaps® containing Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, and Pyrilamine Maleate
• Midol® Teen Menstrual Formula Caplets® containing Acetaminophen and Pamabrom
• Midrin® containing Acetaminophen, Dichloralphenazone, and Isometheptene Mucate
• Ornex® Caplets® containing Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
• Ornex® Maximum Strength Caplets® containing Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
• Pamprin® Maximum Pain Relief Caplets® containing Acetaminophen, Magnesium Salicylate, and Pamabrom
• Pamprin® Multi-Symptom containing Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, and Pyrilamine Maleate
• Percogesic® containing Acetaminophen and Phenyltoloxamine Citrate
• Percogesic® Extra Strength Caplets® containing Acetaminophen and Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride
• Phrenilin® containing Acetaminophen and Butalbital • Phrenilin® Forte containing Acetaminophen and Butalbital
• Premsyn PMS® Caplets® containing Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, and Pyrilamine Maleate
• Sedapap® containing Acetaminophen and Butalbital
• Sinarest® No Drowsiness Tablets containing Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
• Sine-Off® Maximum Strength No Drowsiness Formula Caplets® containing Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
• Sinutab® containing Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
• Sinutab® Sinus Medication Maximum Strength Without Drowsiness Tablets containing Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
• Sominex® Pain Relief Formula containing Acetaminophen and Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride
• St. Joseph® Cold Tablets for Children containing Acetaminophen and Phenylpropanolamine Hydrochloride
• Sudafed® Sinus & Headache Caplets® containing Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
• Sudafed® Sinus & Headache Maximum Strength Tablets containing Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
• Tylenol® Allergy Sinus NightTime Maximum Strength Caplets® containing Acetaminophen, Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
• Tylenol® Flu NightTime Maximum Strength Gelcaps® containing Acetaminophen, Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride, and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
• Tylenol® PM Extra Strength Caplets® containing Acetaminophen and Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride
• Tylenol® PM Extra Strength Gelcaps® containing Acetaminophen and Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride
• Tylenol® PM Extra Strength Geltabs® containing Acetaminophen and Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride
• Tylenol® Sinus Geltabs® Maximum Strength Tablets containing Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
• Tylenol® Sinus Medication Maximum Strength Geltabs® containing Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
• Tylenol® Sinus Medication Maximum-Strength Caplets® containing Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
• Tylenol® Sinus Medication Maximum-Strength Gelcaps® containing Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
• Tylenol® Women's Caplets® containing Acetaminophen and Pamabrom
• Ultracet® containing Acetaminophen and Tramadol Hydrochloride
• Women's Tylenol® Menstrual Relief Caplets® containing Acetaminophen and Pamabrom

Sources

American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, 2005
https://www.aasld.org/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?webcode=FastFacts_Acetaminop

American Society of Health System Pharmacists: National Library of Medicine: National Institute of Health
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a681004.html

American Liver Foundation
http://www.liverfoundation.org/downloads/alf_download_29.pdf