Even though we consider acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) a safe pain reliever for both children and adults it can be extremely dangerous and causes significant side effects. Acetaminophen has been linked to over 100,000 calls to poison control centers; 50,000 emergency room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations, and more than 450 deaths from liver failure each year.
The folks at GreenMedInfo.com have once again done a wonderful job of reviewing the problems and history of acetaminophen. Below is the exerpted article.
Enjoy.
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The Dangers of Tylenol: Is it Time for the FDA to
Remove it From the Market?
www.greenmedinfo.com
Posted on: Thursday, August 8th 2013 at 1:00 pm
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| photo from Wikicommons |
Introduction
Most people consider acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) as being an extremely safe pain reliever for both children and adults. The reality is that it can be extremely dangerous and causes significant side effects. Each year acetaminophen causes over 100,000 calls to poison control centers; 50,000 emergency room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations, and more than 450 deaths from liver failure. In addition, regular use of acetaminophen is linked to a higher likelihood of asthma, infertility, and hearing loss (especially in men under 50 years of age).
The FDA has done a poor job alerting
the public to the dangers of acetaminophen. In my opinion, it is a drug that
serves no real medical purpose in the 21st century. Its use should
be curtailed or even eliminated entirely.
Background Data
Acetaminophen is the only remaining member of the class of drugs known as "aniline analgesics" that is still on the market. The rest were discontinued long ago. Acetaminophen only blocks the feelings of pain and reduces fever, it exerts no significant anti-inflammatory action.
Acetaminophen is very hard on the
liver and is known to reduce the liver's store of the important detoxifying aid
and antioxidant glutathione. When acetaminophen is combined with alcoholic
drinks or other compounds toxic to the liver including other medications, its
negative effects on the liver are multiplied. It should definitely not be used
in anyone with impaired liver function.
Acetaminophen is often the drug of
choice in children to relieve fever. However, use for fever in the first year
of life is associated with an increase in the incidence of asthma and other
allergic symptoms later in childhood. Asthma appears to be another disease
process that is influenced greatly by antioxidant mechanisms. Acetaminophen
severely depletes glutathione levels not only in the liver, but presumably
other tissues as well and should definitely not be used in people with asthma.
New Data
On August 1, 2013 the FDA released a notification on acetaminophen that it is now associated with rare, but severe and sometimes fatal skin reactions even at recommended dosages.
These skin reactions, known as
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and acute
generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) are associated with reddening of
the skin, rash, blisters, and detachment of the upper surface of the skin.
These reactions can occur at any time while acetaminophen is being taken – they
can happen the first time it is used or after long-term use. Other drugs used
to treat fever and pain/body aches (e.g., non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs, or NSAIDS, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen) also carry the risk
of causing serious skin reactions, which is already described in the warnings
section of their drug labels.
The FDA's solution is that they will
now require that a warning be added to the labels of prescription drug products
containing acetaminophen to address the risk of serious skin reactions. FDA
will also request that manufacturers of OTC acetaminophen drug products to add
a warning about serious skin reactions to the product labels.
Comment
It just might be time to pull the plug on acetaminophen. Can you imagine if the side effects and risks associated with acetaminophen were associated with a dietary supplement? It would be yanked from the market immediately. The FDA needs to quit following a double standard and instead look after the public's best interest not only by calling for more warnings on labels, but also by pulling from the market outdated, potentially dangerous drugs especially those available over-the-counter.
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Here is one more reason to not cover the pain with medication and over-the-counter pain relievers. To be truely healthy and avoid unnecessarly side effects visit your doctor of chiropractic to have those lingering aches and pains evaluated. Through proper spinal care you may find the pain relievers are no longer necessary and you can confidently enjoy life again.
If you or a loved one is regularly taking acetaminophen or other pain reliever call our office to schedule a no cost, no obligation initial consultation to find out what we may be able to do to help you live life to the fullest.
Yours for better health,
Dr. Heller
Reference
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm363041.htm
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