Acetaminophen Liver Damage

Tylenol, or acetaminophen, is currently the most popular pain killer in the US. It is extremely effective, though there are cases in which it can cause damage and is not recommended.

How much acetaminophen can cause liver damage?

A single dose of 7 to 10 grams of acetaminophen can cause liver damage in healthy adults, yet this is around twice the recommended dosage in any 24-hour period. However, it has also been noted that lower dosage have at times caused severe liver damage. Those who regularly drink alcohol are more prone to liver damage than others after taking the drug.

Overdose on acetaminophen can be avoided by careful use of the product. This includes reading labels carefully to learn the strength of each tablet or spoonful you are taking. If you are unsure of what the safe daily quantity is then you should contact your doctor to be safe.

What happens to those who do get liver damage?

During the first phase of liver damage after the overdose, the patient will experience certain symptoms such as nausea and vomiting for the first 12 to 24 hours. For the next 12-24 hour period the patient will feel well. However, the third phase which will begin 48-72 hours after ingestion will see liver blood test abnormalities. The prognosis for the patient will be determined from blood tests.

If you suspect that you or someone else has overdosed you should contact a medical professional immediately where they will be able to assess the probability of liver damage based on factors at the time the overdose was taken. Doctors will often pump the patient’s stomach to remove pill fragments and those at high-risk of damage will be given an antidote. Those who recover are left with no ongoing liver disease.