Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in painkillers
(such as Tylenol), cough medicines, sleep aids, and more than 400
over-the-counter (OTC), and prescription products. When used
correctly, it is one of the safest and most effective drugs on
the market.
So why did a recent major study find that acetaminophen
accounted for nearly 40% of patients hospitalized for acute liver
failure? That's far more than any other cause of liver
failure, and a great concern because liver damage can happen very
quickly and may prove fatal without a liver transplant.
The fine line between safe and
deadly
Overdosing on acetaminophen is easier than with other
painkillers. The recommended daily maximum dosage is 4,000 mg
(4g) daily. Exceeding this by only 20% for even one day can
result in liver injury and rapidly deteriorating liver function
in healthy people. Some recover completely with proper treatment,
while others will die without a liver transplant.
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