Tylenol Side Effects
Tylenol is an effective pain reliever for those suffering headache pain, toothache, sore muscles and pain associated with bruises. It is also used to control fever and the pain accompanying high body temperature. When used in the suggested dosage Tylenol has very few side effects, most of them harmless. However taking this medication in excessive doses may cause acetaminophen toxicity, which can lead to serious health complications. There are verified case studies involving acetaminophen toxicity and its effect on the liver.
Liver Damage from Acetaminophen Toxicity
The liver is responsible for producing many of the body's natural defense agents as well as a number of critical enzymes required for nutrition at the cellular level. The liver can be damaged by excessive alcohol intake, poor diet in general and a buildup of certain chemicals found in medications. If Tylenol is used in excess of the recommended dosage the liver may become shocked, its ability to produce necessary chemicals is reduced and the body may have a difficult time identifying and neutralizing dangerous antigens.
Liver failure often results in death because the body's systems are hampered severely in the areas of nutrition, cell growth and waste discharge. A liver transplant is the only known treatment for liver failure, as the sensitive tissues of the liver cannot be restored or reconstituted through operations or the administering of medications.
FDA Involvement
Recently the Food and Drug Administration announced new labeling laws and dosage amounts on products containing acetaminophen. Specifically the agency called for all makers of medical pain relief products containing acetaminophen to manufacture their tablets, gel tabs or capsules with no more than 325 milligrams of acetaminophen per unit.
Furthermore the FDA is now requiring drug makers to include a warning about the possible side effects of Tylenol and other products containing acetaminophen. This includes information about possible liver damage or liver failure resulting from an excessive overdose of the product. Known as a Boxed Warning, this information will be highlighted on all packages of Tylenol and other pain medications containing acetaminophen.
The FDA also issued a number of updated reports concerning the use of Tylenol and other acetaminophen products in combination with alcohol. The FDA warns individuals to reduce their intake of acetaminophen if they consume at least two alcoholic drinks per day. These reports also mentioned Children's Tylenol and the possibility of liver damage in pre-teens taking more than the recommended dosage of this product. This has prompted several manufacturers to provide warning information on Children's Tylenol even though there are as of yet no conclusive statistics regarding the effect of acetaminophen on a child's liver.
Asthma in Children
The latest statistics show that over one-half of all health complications arising from the misuse or overdosing of Tylenol and other products containing acetaminophen are liver-related. This is of serious concern for those who may have taken these products in excess without being made aware of the possible risks.
Asthma development in children is on the rise and there are a number of reports indicating a possible link between Children's Tylenol and asthma risk in youngsters. Several studies have concluded that asthma is more likely to develop in children using acetaminophen, but currently there are no definitive reasons given for this association.