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'Safe' Painkiller Is Leading Cause Of Liver Failure
New Scientist ^ | 12--8-2005 | Alison Motluk

Posted on 12/08/2005 3:07:50 PM PST by blam

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I believe we know Acetaminophen as Tylenol.

And, they're correct, I have a bottle of 500 in my medicine cabinet.

1 posted on 12/08/2005 3:07:52 PM PST by blam
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To: blam

My missus has kidney failure that may have been the result of ibuprofen. inconclusive, but they found no other explaination for it either


2 posted on 12/08/2005 3:11:19 PM PST by digger48
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To: blam

Do most people not know about acetaminophen's effect on the liver? I thought it was pretty well known. I always take something else if I've had any alcohol that day.

It's also found in cough syrups and other stuff.


3 posted on 12/08/2005 3:11:43 PM PST by Sols
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To: blam
Oh ho! Back up or put on your tinfoil chapeau, this topic has been a hobbyhorse of mine for years. Most people have no idea that Tylenol is dangerous in overdose, let alone how small an amount over the recommended dose constitutes an overdose.

Then there's stuff like Tylenol #3 and Tylenol #4, that pair acetaminophen with codeine. Presumably, they add the Tylenol to prevent it being used recreationally, but how many people other than experienced druggies know the danger? And what're we saying, really? We'd rather have you die of liver failure than abuse a prescription medication?

A nurse friend of mine talks about heartbreaking cases of kids deliberately trying to suicide on Tylenol, waving cheerily on their way out of the hospital, when she knows they'll be back before long when it catches up to their livers.

Moreover, the damned stuff doesn't work at all for me. I might as well take nothing. And all this has been known about it from the beginning. How in heck it ever got adopted as the "safe" pain reliever for use in hospitals, over good old blood-thinning aspirin, is one of life's great mysteries. And, I suspect, another of life's great mysterious that could be solved by followed the money.

Phew! Now, that feels better...

4 posted on 12/08/2005 3:16:52 PM PST by prion (Yes, as a matter of fact, I AM the spelling police)
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To: digger48
"My missus has kidney failure that may have been the result of ibuprofen. inconclusive, but they found no other explaination for it either.

I thought ibuprofen causes heart failure too.

5 posted on 12/08/2005 3:21:37 PM PST by blam
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To: blam

[Lee thinks American drug enforcers should follow the lead of the UK, which requires products that contain acetaminophen to be packaged in blister packets and sold in small quantities. "I think we should talk about limiting package size," says Lee. "You can buy 500 at a time. They're like M&Ms."]


Yes, I've long said that we need the government to limit our choices as consumers in order to prevent us from hurting ourselves.

After they limit the number of pills we can buy at one time to keep us idiotic peasants from accidentally overdosing, then they can pass a law that puts a limit on how much food we can buy in one serving at a restaurant to prevent us from overeating and getting too fat or developing heart disease.

I hope the sarcasm tag is unnecessary.


6 posted on 12/08/2005 3:23:36 PM PST by spinestein (All journalists today are paid advocates for someone's agenda.)
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To: blam

Dude, go to CostCo, you can get a bottle of 1200 for the same price.


7 posted on 12/08/2005 3:24:30 PM PST by Valpal1 (Crush jihadists, drive collaborators before you, hear the lamentations of their media. Allahu FUBAR!)
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To: blam
Percoset and other similar opiate containing drugs contain acetaminophen as well. 325 mg a pill. Tylonol 3's with codeine are really just 325 mg acetaminophen with 5 mg of the opiate derivative codeine. Never, EVER drink while taking acetaminophen, that can cause liver failure. If you have cronic pain, take something else. Oxycontin contains NO acetaminophen, which is why is popular among people with cronic pain. It's bad stuff if you DON'T have cronic pain however. All drugs are dangerous if used incorrectly.
8 posted on 12/08/2005 3:24:52 PM PST by Forte Runningrock
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To: blam

Pretty much anything has a 1-1,000,000 chance of something, I guess.


I've had doctors contradicting the pharmacist on tylenol vs ibuprofen vs aspirin for a particular ache or pain


9 posted on 12/08/2005 3:27:26 PM PST by digger48
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To: blam

This has been known for years,since at least the seventies.

Too much of anything will damage something.




10 posted on 12/08/2005 3:28:10 PM PST by Mears (The Killer Queen)
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To: blam

Don't take more than 20 in 24 hours.


11 posted on 12/08/2005 3:29:46 PM PST by Crawdad (So the guy says to the doctor, "It hurts when I do this.")
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To: Mears

>>> Too much of anything will damage something. <<<

Bingo. It's amazing how many people forget that...


12 posted on 12/08/2005 3:30:40 PM PST by Keith in Iowa (You know you have bird flu if you have usual flu symptoms + desire to crap on freshly washed cars.)
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To: blam

Lets see.. can't take Tylonol - bad for my liver.

Can't take aspirin or motrin - bad for my kidney (yes, I have only 1 left).

Whats left?

I guess it's a good thing I rarely get headaches...


13 posted on 12/08/2005 3:30:54 PM PST by Trampled by Lambs (I think, therefor I Zot!)
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To: spinestein
I hope the sarcasm tag is unnecessary.

I have learned the painful way that the sarcasm tag is always necessary. There's always some moron out there that will take you seriously.

14 posted on 12/08/2005 3:31:42 PM PST by randog (What the....?!)
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To: spinestein
Yes, I've long said that we need the government to limit our choices as consumers in order to prevent us from hurting ourselves.

When they start messing with the beer limit, all bets are off.

15 posted on 12/08/2005 3:33:43 PM PST by Recovering Hermit
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To: blam

I'm an aspirin man, myself.


16 posted on 12/08/2005 3:36:50 PM PST by Jackknife ( "I bet after seeing us, George Washington would sue us for calling him 'father'." —Will Rogers)
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To: prion

Tylenol has always been the politically correct painkiller.My lefty friends all take it exclusively instead of that capitalist drug aspirin. I have no idea whatever why this seems to be the case.


17 posted on 12/08/2005 3:42:07 PM PST by arthurus (Better to fight them over THERE than over HERE.)
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To: prion

Your right on the money there. I was put on tylonol (percoset) for a year, and began showing signs of liver damage. it shouldn't be used long term, or in high doses.

I'm still on oxycontin for cronic pain, If I have a headache, I take an asprin. only if the asprin fails to work will I take ONE percoset. If that doesn't work, go to sleep. Strange that oxycontin does nothing for a headache, but does wonders for my spinal injury.

people need to be careful with acetaminaphene, and for God's sake do NOT drink while taking it.


18 posted on 12/08/2005 3:43:33 PM PST by Forte Runningrock
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To: spinestein

People really have to educate themselves.

My husband had an achy cold...took a dose of Nyquil then asked me "Where's the Tylenol?" I had to point out to him that Nyquil has 1000 mg of Tylenol per dose. Add to the fact that he used to be a heavy drinker...yikes!


19 posted on 12/08/2005 3:47:13 PM PST by 2Jedismom (Expect me when you see me!)
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To: blam

Haven't used the brand name in ages. It is about twice as expensive as some other forms of Acetaminophen.


20 posted on 12/08/2005 3:53:17 PM PST by TheLion
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