Over-the-Counter Pain Killers Can Kill You

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Over-the-Counter Pain Killers Can Kill You

Sunday, July 22, 2012 8:03 PM

By Sylvia Booth Hubbard

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Over-the-counter pain relievers can kill more than just pain - taking more

than the recommended amount can kill you as well.

" A ish study just found that people often take too much acetaminophen

(Tylenol) without realizing it, and even a little extra can cause liver

damage that can kill you, " Schwartz, M.D., chief medical officer at

the Age Management Institute in New York City, tells Newsmax Health.

" Tylenol builds up in the system, even when taken at recommended levels. "

The danger isn't just from Tylenol, says Dr. Schwartz. " Advil - ibuprofen -

is just as dangerous. In addition to damaging your liver, ibuprofen has the

additional possibility of causing gastrointestinal bleeding. "

Although all painkillers can cause liver damage when taken in excess, those

available over-the-counter (OTC) can be especially perilous, says Dr.

Schwartz. " People don't think a painkiller they can buy over the counter can

hurt them. And people are popping Tylenol and Advil like candy. Lots of

people say they take five a day or more. "

It's surprisingly easy to overdose. A regular Tylenol contains 325 mg of

acetaminophen, and an extra-strength tablet contains 500 mg. For the

average, healthy adult, the maximum recommended dose over a 24-hour period

is 4 grams, or eight extra-strength tablets. Liver damage occurs at 7 grams.

" Who only takes one at a time? " asks Dr. Schwartz. " Most people take two or

three. "

If you take three pills five times a day, you're already over the safe

dosage limit with the regular tablets and into the possibility of liver

damage with the extra-strength pills.

People can also easily overdose in three ways:

.. Mixing Tylenol and Advil. This can result from following potentially

deadly advice from doctors who frequently recommend patients take a dose of

acetaminophen followed by a dose of ibuprofen two hours later. " This dosage

absolutely puts adults in danger, " says Dr. Schwartz. The danger is even

worse for children. " Pediatricians often prescribe that much medicine for

children who have a slight fever or are teething. We don't know all of the

potential side effects, but we do know that children's systems are more

delicate than those of adults, " Dr. Schwartz says.

.. Taking several different OTC medications that contain the same ingredient.

" Advil, Aleve, Motrin, Advil Cold & Sinus, and Motrin IB all contain the

same ingredient, ibuprofen " says Dr. Schwartz. " And Tylenol, Pamprin, and

Tylenol Cold all contain acetaminophen. "

.. Combining prescription medicine with OTC products. " Many common

prescription pain relievers contain acetaminophen, including Vicodin and

Fioricet, " says Dr. Schwartz. " People don't realize that when they take the

prescription drug and Tylenol together they're getting too much

acetaminophen. "

You can go from a mild liver problem to complete liver failure in days, says

Dr. Schwartz, and neither the patient nor the doctor usually makes the

connection with OTC pain pills. " The doctors aren't in tune to it, and since

you're not trying to commit suicide, your doctor doesn't suspect liver

failure caused by pain pills. "

Although 7 grams of Tylenol is considered an overdose, your threshold may be

lower depending on many factors. " If you have an unhealthy lifestyle, 5

grams may be toxic for you, " warns Dr. Schwartz. " Our diet will either

accentuate or diminish the effects of medicine. Food has to be detoxified by

the liver, just like medications. And if you add stress to the liver by

eating junky foods that are processed and chemically treated, or if you

drink a lot of caffeine or alcohol, you're making it harder for your liver

to work, and you will increase the chances of liver failure. "

Your sex and age can also be a factor - women and those over 40 are more

likely to suffer liver damage from too many painkillers.

The key is to use the smallest dose of pain relievers that is effective,

avoid using them in combination, and always use them in moderation.