Symptoms of Liver Failure
Tylenol, which is the brand name of the medication acetaminophen, is used primarily as a pain killer and a fever reducer. When used in recommended amounts, Tylenol does not cause major damage to the liver and is appropriate for anyone with a healthy liver. Unfortunately, an overdose of acetaminophen results in damage and failure within the liver.
An overdose of acetaminophen can occur for a few different reasons. Some individuals take more than the recommended amount, resulting in an overdose. For others, taking Tylenol and a second medication that includes acetaminophen within the same time period results in an accidental overdose.
Overdose Warning Signs
Knowing the signs of Tylenol overdose is vital to staying alive. The symptoms of an overdose can be seen in four different phases. Early treatment from signs in the first phase of overdosing will result in an increased survival rate, while waiting too long can require a liver transfer to survive.
Initial Symptoms
The first signs and symptoms of an overdose include nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, excessive or odd sweating and diarrhea. The symptoms start showing up around 12 to 24 hours after the overdose occurs. Unfortunately, the early signs of overdose do not occur in all individuals who take too much of the medication. If the signs or symptoms arise, going to the doctor will greatly increase chances of survival. Patients are given charcoal before the doctor does anything else because the Tylenol binds to the charcoal. The doctors then remove the Tylenol by pumping it out of the stomach or provide N-acetylcysteine, otherwise known as NAC, which is the antidote for acetaminophen overdoses.
Potential Liver Damage
The secondary phase of a Tylenol overdose occurs during the 12 to 24 hours after the initial symptoms. During the second phase, individuals who have overdosed do not experience any symptoms and all previous signs fade, resulting in a healthy feeling. It is during this time that liver damage can occur.
Serious Symptoms
The third phase of acetaminophen overdose takes place between 48 and 72 hours after overdosing on the medicine. The liver begins showing signs of failure from the medicine. The individual who overdosed will begin feeling pain on the right side of the torso, around the upper abs or just below the ribs. The pain is a result of the liver beginning to swell.
Some of the signs of liver failure when pain begins include jaundice or yellowing of the skin and eyes, dark colored urine, low blood sugar, bleeding, nausea and vomiting. Doctors who test patients will see high levels of the liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase, or AST, and alanine aminotransferase, or ALT, in the blood. The liver becomes so damaged by the third phase, after the overdose many of the patients will need a liver transplant to survive. Some individuals die as a result of liver failure, brain swelling and infections in the body.
The Potential for Death
The final phase of the overdose starts around the fifth day after taking the medication. The fourth phase is a recovery phase during which the body starts trying to heal. Some individuals die, even after a liver transplant, as the body is unable to heal and organs fail. Some may live through the fourth phase and gradually heal. Doctors will determine when an individual is out of danger, which is usually between 14 and 21 days after the overdose occurred.
Upon surviving a Tylenol overdose, the internal body will need around three months to fully heal. Individuals who experience nausea, vomiting, bleeding or bruising, pain on the upper right stomach, yellowing of the skin and eyes or flu-like symptoms after taking Tylenol are experiencing overdose symptoms and should seek immediate medical attention.