Tylenol: The not so safe pain reliever

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

Written By:  Dr. Michael Murray     

                                                            

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 21^st 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

Healing Foods: Turmeric (Curcumin)

For centuries folk medicine depended on natural, herbal and nutriceutical remedies.  With the advent of pharmaceutical medicine many of the old remedies and their benefits were lost by the wayside. Much to the detriment of society. However, with the ever growing lists of side effects of today's patent drugs, their lack of true healing and the epidemic of secondary chronic disorders that they leave behind, interest is once again being shown to the old ways, their benefits and their safety.

The following article, exerpted from greenmedinfo.com, reviews the benefits and the recent research behind the age old spice, turmeric.  Definitely an impressive resume' of benefits and a spice worth adding to your diet.
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Turmeric is one the most thoroughly researched plants in existence today.  Its medicinal properties and components (primarily curcumin) have been the subject of over 5600 peer-reviewed and published biomedical studies.  In fact, our five-year long research project on this sacred plant has revealed over 600 potential preventive and therapeutic applications, as well as 175 distinct beneficial physiological effects.

Given the sheer density of research performed on this remarkable spice, it is no wonder that a growing number of studies have concluded that it compares favorably to a variety of conventional medications, including:

• Lipitor/Atorvastatin(cholesterol medication): A 2008 study published in the journal Drugs in R & D found that a standardized preparation of curcuminoids from Turmeric compared favorably to the drug atorvastatin (trade name Lipitor) on endothelial dysfunction, the underlying pathology of the blood vessels that drives atherosclerosis, in association with reductions in inflammation and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic patients. [i] 
  
  
• Corticosteroids (steroid medications): A 1999 study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research found that the primary polyphenol in turmeric, the saffron colored pigment known as curcumin, compared favorably to steroids in the management of chronic anterior uveitis, an inflammatory eye disease.[ii]  A 2008 study published in Critical Care Medicine found that curcumin compared favorably to the corticosteroid drug dexamethasone in the animal model as an alternative therapy for protecting lung transplantation-associated injury by down-regulating inflammatory genes.[iii] An earlier 2003 study published in Cancer Letters found the same drug also compared favorably to dexamethasone in a lung ischaemia-repurfusion injury model.[iv] 
  
• Prozac/Fluoxetine & Imipramine  (antidepressants): A 2011 study published in the journal Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica found that curcumin compared favorably to both drugs in reducing depressive behavior in an animal model.[v]
  
• Aspirin (blood thinner): A 1986 in vitro and ex vivo study published in the journal Arzneimittelforschung found that curcumin has anti-platelet and prostacyclin modulating effects compared to aspirin, indicating it may have value in patients prone to vascular thrombosis and requiring anti-arthritis therapy.[vi] 
  
• Anti-inflammatory Drugs: A 2004 study published in the journal Oncogene found that curcumin (as well as resveratrol) were effective alternatives to the drugs aspirin, ibuprofen, sulindac, phenylbutazone, naproxen, indomethacin, diclofenac, dexamethasone, celecoxib, and tamoxifen in exerting anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activity against tumor cells.[vii]
  
• Oxaliplatin (chemotherapy drug): A 2007 study published in the International Journal of Cancer found that curcumin compares favorably with oxaliplatin as an antiproliferative agenet in colorectal cell lines.[viii]
  
• Metformin (diabetes drug): A 2009 study published in the journal Biochemitry and Biophysical Research Community explored how curcumin might be valuable in treating diabetes, finding that it activates AMPK (which increases glucose uptake) and suppresses gluconeogenic gene expression  (which suppresses glucose production in the liver) in hepatoma cells. Interestingly, they found curcumin to be 500 times to 100,000 times (in the form known as tetrahydrocurcuminoids(THC)) more potent than metformin in activating AMPK and its downstream target acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). [ix]

Another way in which turmeric and its components reveal their remarkable therapeutic properties is in research on drug resistant- and multi-drug resistant cancers. 

We have found no less than 54 studies indicating that curcumin can induce cell death or sensitize drug-resistant cancer cell lines to conventional treatment.[x]

We have identified 27 studies on curcumin's ability to either induce cell death or sensitize multi-drug resistant cancer cell lines to conventional treatment.[xi]

Considering how strong a track record turmeric (curcumin) has, having been used as both food and medicine in a wide range of cultures, for thousands of years, a strong argument can be made for using curcumin as a drug alternative or adjuvant in cancer treatment.

Or, better yet, use certified organic (non-irradiated) turmeric in lower culinary doses on a daily basis so that heroic doses won't be necessary later in life after a serious disease sets in.  Nourishing yourself should be the goal of a healthy diet.

For the references go to the original article: 

For your better health,

Dr. Heller

Friends for Life = Friends for Health

It is pretty self-evident that spending time with those close to us, that we can share with, laugh with and just spend time with make us feel better about ourselves and our lives.  Evidence is now coming out that the benefits are not only emotional they are truly physical.

Most of us have heard that pets and deep friendships with others can extend life and improve quality of life.  A recent study appearing in the from Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research at Ohio State University presented at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology annual meeting in New Orleans has found why.

Researchers found people who were more lonely showed signs of elevated latent herpes virus reactivation and produced more inflammation-related proteins in response to acute stress than people who felt more socially connected. 

It seems that loneliness boosts inflammation.  Inflammation is linked to coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease and most other chronic disorders.  Inflammation can lead to

tissue damage throughout the body accelerating aging and predisposing you to other disease processes.  Currently these chronic conditions are typically addressed with anti-inflammatory drugs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s).  Listening to the news and the disclaimers on advertising we should understand that this approach is not without significant risks.

It is clear from previous research that poor-quality relationships are linked to a number of health problems, including premature mortality and all sorts of other very serious health conditions. And people who are lonely clearly feel like they are in poor-quality relationships," stated the lead author.

So as you are taking steps in the New Year to keep yourself healthy, make sure you include time with friends, family and other companions in your daily or at least weekly schedule to improve your well-being.  

Yours for Better Health,

Dr. Heller 

Photo Source

What is Sciatica

Sciatica is actually a symptom of another ailment.

Many people who hear the term, "sciatica," think of a painful condition or ailment. Not so. Sciatica is actually only a symptom of a condition or ailment. Those who have experienced it describe it as pain that starts in the lower spine and radiates to the buttock and down into the back of the leg, from the thigh through the calf. The pain can range from mild to excruciating and may be accompanied by muscle weakness or numbness in the leg or a feeling of "pins and needles" in the toes or foot of the affected leg.

Read the Entire Article

Acetaminophen Now #1 Cause of Liver Failure

Acetaminophen is a readily available over the counter (OTC) drug that has been recommended regularly for pain relief and fever reduction. It is the most common drug ingredient in America.  It has been shown that it can be used fairly safely, when taken at the recommended dosage.  For adults and children 12 years of age and older, the recommended dose of acetaminophen is 650 to 1000 mg every 4 to 6 hours, not to exceed 4000 mg in 24 hours.  For children under 12 years of age, the recommended dose of acetaminophen is 10 to 15 mg/kg every 4 to 6 hours, not to exceed five doses (50-75 mg/kg) in 24 hours.  If you start to take more than one product for pain and/or fever, you may want to read the labels.


Acetaminophen is marketed under the brand names: Acephen, Actamin, Feverall, Q-Pap, Tactinal, Tempra, Tylenol, Uniserts, Vitapap, as well as being found in more than 600 different over-the-counter and prescription medicines.  You may also find it listed under other generic names such as APAP, N-acetyl-para-aminophenol, Paracetamol.
 
Acetaminophen is found in so many pain relieving formulas.  Combining those products can lead to over dose which can lead to liver damage and liver failure. 

Be safe, be healthy and see you chiropractor for those aches and pains to avoid inadvertently injuring yourself with unnecessary medications.

For Your Health,
    Dr. Heller

Chiropractic's Safety: Let's Look At The Facts

The other week while visiting with a patient during one of her appointments, she presented me with an article that her husband found in a past edition of the Reader’s Digest.  It was a short snippet from an internist (MD) in Michigan stating that he advised his patients that if they wanted to see a chiropractor that was fine “but don’t let them touch your neck”.  He states that this was because he has had a “number of patients over the years that have had strokes after chiropractic neck manipulations.”

I really found this amazing that he himself has seen “a number” of such patients.  Can significant complications occur? It seems that they can, according to case reviews.  Are they that common that one medical practitioner should see “a number of them”?  Statistically, no! 

Chiropractic adjustments (manipulation), even of the neck, is an extremely safe procedure when performed by a highly trained practitioner such as a doctor of chiropractic.  If it were not, malpractice liability premiums for doctors of chiropractic would not be among the lowest of all diagnostic level health providers.  This margin of safety is maintained due to the history of past health and of the current complaint which is done with each patient.  This is then followed up with screening tests for possible complications and possibly confirmatory x-ray or other special studies.  If the doctor of chiropractic practices “due diligence”, chiropractic care is extremely safe.  It can be much safer in fact than the use of  many over the counter remedies and pain relievers. 

A research paper published in 2001 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found 23 reported strokes over a 10 year period.  This is only a one in 5.85-million risk that a chiropractic neck adjustment will be associated with a subsequent stroke.  Other studies have placed the risk at 1 in 500,000 to 1 in one million visits resulting in a serious event requiring medical attention.  In contrast, a statistical review in the March 2000 issue of the journal Pain, authors calculated that 1 in 1,200 patients taking NSAIDs (Aspirin, Ibuprophen, Celebrex, Motrin, Toradol, Relefen, Aleve, Lodene and others) for at least 2 months will die from stomach and intestinal complications.   I often ask those inquiring about this subject if they know anyone, personally, who has been hospitalized after receiving a “routine” medical procedure or taking a prescribed medication.  The answer is almost 100% of the time YES.  In contrast I will ask them if they, personally, know someone that has been hospitalized due to a chiropractic adjustment.  The answer to that is almost 100% of the time NO.

In the February 2008 journal, Spine, researchers noted that patients are no more likely to suffer a stroke following chiropractic treatment than they would after visiting their family doctor’s office.  The authors also noted that neck manipulation “is unlikely to be a major cause” of these rare stroke events.  It is doubtful whether a neck manipulation, as it is practiced by chiropractors, would have the force to damage healthy arteries. This seems to be supported by the significant number of patients who are treated without incident. 

This issue tends to creep into the media from time to time.  While it is an unfortunate complication that can happen, a handful of case and retrospective studies indicate that it is extremely rare and no more common that might be expected to happen with everyday life activities.  Routine daily activities that can create the situation which is proposed to cause strokes, such as sudden neck rotation and extension, these include over the shoulder checking while driving, sports, lifting, working overhead, falls, getting your hair washed at a salon, sneezing, and coughing.

To put the above mentioned risks into perspective let’s use the mid range number of 1 in 1,000,000 (that’s one million) figure.  We should consider that a review of risks which appeared in the September 1980 edition of JAMA found these “voluntary risks” in everyday activities:

Activity                                                   Risk of Death per Person per Year

Smoking: 20 cigarettes/day                               1 in 200

Drinking: 1 bottle of wine per day                       1 in 13,300

Football (Soccer)                                                1 in 25,500

Automobile driving (UK)                                      1 in 5,900

Motorcycling                                                        1 in 50  

Rock climbing                                                     1 in 7,150

Taking contraceptive pills                                    1 in 5,000

Power boating                                                     1 in 5,900

Skiing                                                                   1 in 430,000

Pregnancy (United Kingdom)                              1 in 4,350

 

Looking at the numbers above for many day to day activities performed without significant fear for one’s safety, we see that
chiropractic adjustment of the neck is considerably safer.  Considering the numerous benefits attributed to a balanced, properly functioning spine and nervous system, the minute risks posed to a properly evaluated and qualified patient in the chiropractic office should be considered more than acceptable.

Oh, returning to our Michigan, internist friend!  Extrapolating from the above study finding 23 cases in ten years, adjusting for a complication rate of 1 in 1,000,000, we could expect to see about 133 strokes per ten years.  This means that there would be about 13 cases of stroke per year, nation wide.  This internist evidently is either an ambulance chaser for such cases, practices in an area with some very sloppy chiropractors creating this “number of cases” in his area or he is simply exaggerating the truth.  But those are topics for other articles!

For your empowerment,

       Dr. Heller