Tylenol and Liver Damage
We’ve known for years that Tylenol can cause liver damage if it’s used over a long period of time, but a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that it’s much worse than we expected – healthy adults sustained liver damage after using the drug for as little as two weeks.
The study involved 106 people who took 4 grams of Tylenol a day for two weeks (the maximum daily dose recommended by the manufacturer). Some took the Tylenol alone, some received a placebo, while others took the drug combined with OxyContin, a powerful opioid painkiller.
The results showed that not one person who received the placebo had any signs of liver damage. However, those who took either the Tylenol alone or in combination with the other drug displayed abnormal liver test results, which indicated liver damage.
The finding led the study’s co-author, Dr. Neil Kaplowitz of the University of Southern California to declare, “This drug has a rather narrow safety window,” and he urged users not to exceed 4 grams of Tylenol (eight extra-strength tablets) a day. For heavy drinkers, that amount should not exceed 2 grams daily, he warned.
