Tylenol can kill you; new warning admits popular painkiller causes liver damage, death

[donnay]

Tylenol can kill you; new warning admits popular painkiller causes liver damage, death

Jonathan Benson

It has been a common household name in over-the-counter pain relief for more than 50 years. But the popular painkiller drug Tylenol is getting a major labeling makeover following a string of personal injury lawsuits. According to the Associated Press (AP), so many Tylenol users these days are suffering major liver damage or dying that the drug's manufacturer, McNeil Consumer Healthcare, has decided to put a large, red warning label on the cap that informs users about the drug's risks.

Even when taken at recommended doses, acetaminophen, the primary active ingredient in Tylenol, can cause major damage to the liver, potentially leading to liver failure and even death. In fact, acetaminophen is currently the leading cause of sudden liver failure in the U.S., as its toxic metabolites have been shown to kill liver cells. The drug is so toxic that as many as 80,000 people are rushed to the emergency room annually due to acetaminophen poisoning, and another 500-or-so end up dead from liver failure.

These are disturbing figures that might come as a surprise to most people, especially considering that millions of Americans pop Tylenol and acetaminophen-containing drugs on a regular basis. But with more than 85 personal injury lawsuits and counting filed against the company in federal court, McNeil is feeling the heat from a drug that has long been claimed as one of the safest painkiller drugs on the market, which it clearly is not.

"The warning will make it explicitly clear that the over-the-counter drug contains acetaminophen, a pain-relieving ingredient that's the nation's leading cause of sudden liver failure," writes Matthew Perrone for the AP. "The new cap is designed to grab the attention of people who don't read warnings that already appear in the fine print on the product's label, according to company executives."

The new label, which will bear the phrases "CONTAINS ACETAMINOPHEN" and "ALWAYS READ THE LABEL," is set to first appear on all bottles of Extra Strength Tylenol, which contains more than 50 percent more acetaminophen per dose than regular strength Tylenol. And in the coming months, all bottles of Tylenol, including regular strength Tylenol, will bear the new label.


NyQuil, Sudafed, Excedrin and many other common drugs also contain acetaminophen

Despite the new label, McNeil, which is owned by drug giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J), insists that Tylenol is safe when taken as directed. But what the company fails to admit is that many people are taking not only Tylenol but also other drugs that contain acetaminophen, which increases their dose of the chemical to levels that are much higher than they probably realize.

According to the AP, nearly one in four Americans, or about 78 million people, consume drug products that contain acetaminophen in a given week. Some 600 over-the-counter drug products, it turns out, contain acetaminophen. These products include other painkiller drugs like Excedrin, for instance, as well as NyQuil cold formula and Sudafed sinus pills.

Combining these and other acetaminophen-containing drugs is a major cause of acetaminophen overdose, say experts, hence the addition of the new labels. But some people who stay well within the maximum daily dose of acetaminophen, which is currently set at 4,000 milligrams (mg) per day, still fall ill or die, which suggests that perhaps any level of acetaminophen is toxic and should be avoided.

"It's still a little bit of a puzzle," says Dr. Anne Larson from the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. "Is it a genetic predisposition? Are they claiming they took the right amount, but they really took more? It's difficult to know."

Sources for this article include:

http://www.mercurynews.com

http://www.foodconsumer.org

http://www.painmedicinenews.com

http://science.naturalnews.com

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/043155_Tylenol_liver_damage_warning_label.html#ixz z2mnp9b6If

[tod evans]

I've avoided Tylenol for my entire life preferring to use plain ol' unbuffered aspirin for minor aches-n-pains.

When I was in the service I had morphine available for both pain relief and recreation....It would certainly be nice to have that option as I age..:o

[angelatc]

Even when taken at recommended doses, acetaminophen, the primary active ingredient in Tylenol, can cause major damage to the liver, potentially leading to liver failure and even death.

As per the norm, this line is a flat-out lie. Everything she posts has at least one. They throw it in with other truths and half-truths, knowing that the sheeple who follow them won't ever fact-check them.

Most of article is sort-of true, written in their ominious "they're all out to get you" dire overtones because...well, you know. Conspiracy and vaccines and Monsanto = oh my!

And of course, the headline. They would be nothing without a scary headline. (Speaking of the headline, Tylenol has had warnings about liver damage for as long as I can remember, which makes it ...maybe not a lie, but intentionally deceptive. The warning is not new, by any stretch.)

Reality - the problem is not that people are getting liver damage from taking acetaminophen at the recommended doses. The problem is that people are taking several different products simultaneously and inadvertently taking more than the recommended doses. That, and/or mixing it with alcohol.

In fact, there's also evidence that too much (emphasis on the too much) acetaminophen can also cause kidney damage. (http://www.renalandurologynews.com/light-drinking-plus-acetaminophen-may-raise-renal-impairment-risk/article/323288/)


But the really, really sad part is that they are reducing the daily recommended amount not because it causes damage at that level, but because people don't pay any attention to the warnings. So the new label is actually creating a new danger - people like me who read will know that their suggested max dosage is actually far below the amount we can safely take, so we will also start to ignore it.


McNeil says the new dosing instructions reduce the maximum daily dose from 8 pills per day to 6 pills per day and change the dosing interval from every 4-6 hours to every 6 hours. The company notes that more 600 different medicines include acetaminophen.

"The safety of Tylenol has been well-established for more than 50 years. However, some people accidentally exceed the recommended dose when taking multiple products at the same time, often without realizing they contain acetaminophen or by not reading and following the dosing instructions. Acetaminophen is safe when used as directed, but when taken in overdose amounts, it can cause liver damage," Dr. Edwin K. Kuffner, vice president of OTC medical affairs and research for McNeil, said in a statement.


"For this reason, we are taking a number of steps to help people use acetaminophen appropriately – including introducing new dosing instructions for our Extra Strength Tylenol products.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phillypharma/Johnson--Johnson-to-add-new-warning-to-Tylenol-bottles.html#dJymLIo0fyZMM6dg.99

[angelatc]

I've avoided Tylenol for my entire life preferring to use plain ol' unbuffered aspirin for minor aches-n-pains.

When I was in the service I had morphine available for both pain relief and recreation....It would certainly be nice to have that option as I age..:o


Over the course of my life, I have developed a severe allergy to all the NSAIDs. So it's Tylenol or narcotics for me. Which sucks, because the government lists that particular claim on their list of warning signs of drug seeking behaviors.

[tod evans]

Over the course of my life, I have developed a severe allergy to all the NSAIDs. So it's Tylenol or narcotics for me. Which sucks, because the government lists that particular claim on their list of warning signs of drug seeking behaviors.

Government needs to get out of medicine completely!

Every body responds uniquely to what it ingests, there's no physician, and certainly no politician, who can say what drug or plant will have the desired effect on a given body.

Everything government gets involved in it fucks up.

[acptulsa]

So the new label is actually creating a new danger - people like me who read will know that their suggested max dosage is actually far below the amount we can safely take, so we will also start to ignore it.

This. The inadvertent collateral damage from idiotproofing society.

All I need to know about acetamenophin is that it does nothing for inflammation. Therefore, it does nothing for my aches and pains, all of which seem to be related to inflammation. Therefore, I never, ever bother to take it. Why would I? It's useless.

[angelatc]

This. The inadvertent collateral damage from idiotproofing society.

All I need to know about acetamenophin is that it does nothing for inflammation. Therefore, it does nothing for my aches and pains, all of which seem to be related to inflammation. Therefore, I never, ever bother to take it. Why would I? It's useless.


A question for a marketing class. Personally, I've never understood the reason that aspirin* got largely bumped from the family medicine cabinets in favor of Tylenol. Reye syndrome, maybe.



*noting that DonnaY knows it's all part of "their" plot, too. http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?431154-The-Hidden-Truth-about-Aspirin&highlight=aspirin

[donnay]

Tylenol May Cause Serious Liver Damage
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/46607.php

Study Links Heavy Use of a Pain Reliever to Kidney Failure
http://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/22/us/study-links-heavy-use-of-a-pain-reliever-to-kidney-failure.html

Risk of Kidney Failure Associated with the Use of Acetaminophen, Aspirin, and Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199412223312502?ck=nck&

Long-term use of Tylenol (acetaminophen) found to cause kidney damage, says new study
http://www.naturalnews.com/001523.html#ixzz2mo1BIaio

Too much acetaminophen over time may damage liver
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/story/health/story/2011-11-23/Too-much-acetaminophen-over-time-may-damage-liver/51369772/1

Taking Just a Little Too Much Tylenol Can Be Deadly
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/12/15/little-too-much-tylenol-can-be-deadly.aspx

Overdose
http://www.propublica.org/article/tylenol-mcneil-fda-use-only-as-directed

[acptulsa]

A question for a marketing class. Personally, I've never understood the reason that aspirin* got largely bumped from the family medicine cabinets in favor of Tylenol. Reye syndrome, maybe.

Marketing again. The Tylenol people spent so much time screaming that it can upset your stomach and the ibuprophen makers spent so much screaming that their version works better that somehow people actually forgot aspirin is a pain killer.

Isn't it amazing how the supposed 'idiotproofing' of society makes it that much easier for corporations to prey on idiots?

[donnay]

Government needs to get out of medicine completely!

Every body responds uniquely to what it ingests, there's no physician, and certainly no politician, who can say what drug or plant will have the desired effect on a given body.

Everything government gets involved in it fucks up.


Well said. Because the government stepped in, people blindly believe government is watching over their best interests--nothing could be further from the truth.

[angelatc]

Tylenol May Cause Serious Liver Damage
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/46607.php

Study Links Heavy Use of a Pain Reliever to Kidney Failure
http://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/22/us/study-links-heavy-use-of-a-pain-reliever-to-kidney-failure.html

Risk of Kidney Failure Associated with the Use of Acetaminophen, Aspirin, and Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199412223312502?ck=nck&

Long-term use of Tylenol (acetaminophen) found to cause kidney damage, says new study
http://www.naturalnews.com/001523.html#ixzz2mo1BIaio

Too much acetaminophen over time may damage liver
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/story/health/story/2011-11-23/Too-much-acetaminophen-over-time-may-damage-liver/51369772/1

Taking Just a Little Too Much Tylenol Can Be Deadly
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/12/15/little-too-much-tylenol-can-be-deadly.aspx

Overdose
http://www.propublica.org/article/tylenol-mcneil-fda-use-only-as-directed


Which of those links is to the study that says
Even when taken at recommended doses, acetaminophen, the primary active ingredient in Tylenol, can cause major damage to the liver, potentially leading to liver failure and even death?

'Cos death!

[acptulsa]

Well said. Because the government stepped in, people blindly believe government is watching over their best interests--nothing could be further from the truth.

Oh, those people are easy. Just tell them to call 1-800-BAD-DRUG for a second opinion.

[angelatc]

Well said. Because the government stepped in, people blindly believe government is watching over their best interests--nothing could be further from the truth.


Uh, this new labeling is voluntary. The government didn't step in.

[donnay]

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1440914.1377863580!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/tylenol-liver-damage.jpg



The unusual step, disclosed by the company that makes Tylenol, comes amid a growing number of lawsuits and pressure from the federal government that could have widespread ramifications for a medicine taken by millions of people every day.

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/tylenol-issue-warnings-pill-bottles-article-1.1440915#ixzz2moLq1z9t

[enhanced_deficit]

Good thing I have never used one and hopefully never will. I just drink water if I ever ger headache as it is mostly from too much sun/dehydration for me.

[donnay]

The other thing about this nasty stuff is if you sociably drink and use Tylenol it like a double whammy on your liver.

[mosquitobite]

Any yet, how many doctors still give or recommend parents give tylenol prior to or after vaccination?
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/167859.php

"Although febrile reactions significantly decreased, prophylactic administration of antipyretic drugs at the time of vaccination should not be routinely recommended since antibody responses to several vaccine antigens were reduced."

In an accompanying editorial, Dr Robert Chen of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and colleagues said the study raised concerns about the effect of fever-reducing drugs on the population as a whole.

They said there is a need to ensure a high and sustained antibody response, especially to diseases such as Haemophilus influenzae and pneumococcus to reduce transmission in the population as a whole. The same goes for whooping cough (pertussis), the least well-controlled of our bacterial vaccine -preventable diseases, they wrote.

Chen told WebMD that fever is an essential part of the immune response to any infection or vaccination:

"So dampening fever after immunization is probably not a good idea for most kids," he suggested.

[donnay]

I never understood why anyone would want to dampen a fever. It's a defense mechanism your body uses to kill bad stuff off. You should let it run it's course for a day or two, not suppress it! Fevers are not the trouble; they are the indicator of trouble.

[eduardo89]

Hasn't it always been known that in large doses paracetamol is bad for your liver?

[amy31416]

I wish they'd take it out of painkillers. I was given "Tylenol III" after I had mouth surgery and they actually expected me to be able to take those horse pills. Plus, tylenol doesn't do much for me.

[eduardo89]

I wish they'd take it out of painkillers. I was given "Tylenol III" after I had mouth surgery and they actually expected me to be able to take those horse pills. Plus, tylenol doesn't do much for me.

You want them to take paracetamol out of Tylenol?

[Dr.3D]

You want them to take paracetamol out of Tylenol?

I'd much rather take acetylsalicylic acid in place of it.

[eduardo89]

I'd much rather take acetylsalicylic acid in place of it.

I hate aspirin. You also can't give aspirin to children. But yeah, I don't like paracetamol/acetaminophen either.

[amy31416]

You want them to take paracetamol out of Tylenol?

It's codeine and acetaminophen--just the codeine please.

[Dr.3D]

I hate aspirin.
At least there is an antidote for when you accidentally get too much. codeine would be better, but alas, we have government intervention on that one. Last time I went to Canada, I found some aspirin with codeine (222) was the name on the box.

[amy31416]

At least there is an antidote for when you accidentally get too much. codeine would be better, but alas, we have government intervention on that one. Last time I went to Canada, I found some aspirin with codeine (222) was the name on the box.

OTC in Canada?

[Dr.3D]

OTC in Canada?

Yep, just ask the person behind the counter for 222s or "two-twenty-twos."

[eduardo89]

It's codeine and acetaminophen--just the codeine please.

Does all Tylenol contain codeine in the US? From what I remember in Canada only the 'extra strength' ones had anything other than paracetamol (acetaminophen).

[eduardo89]

OTC in Canada?

Yes, codeine can be bought in small doses without a prescription in Canada. I think the limit is 10mg per pill or so.

[Dr.3D]

I hate aspirin. You also can't give aspirin to children. But yeah, I don't like paracetamol/acetaminophen either.

That's what we had when I was young. There wasn't anything called Tylenol. Taking it as a child didn't harm me in the least.

[tod evans]

I hate aspirin. You also can't give aspirin to children.


That's what we had when I was young. There wasn't anything called Tylenol. Taking it as a child didn't harm me in the least.

Bayer orange flavored kiddie aspirin...

Paregoric too.

[amy31416]

Does all Tylenol contain codeine in the US? From what I remember in Canada only the 'extra strength' ones had anything other than paracetamol (acetaminophen).

No. Only Tylenol 3--it's a general painkiller for, I guess, general minor surgeries. Needs a prescription. It's my understanding that they load it up w/paracetamol so people will OD on that before ODing on codeine.

[tod evans]

No. Only Tylenol 3--it's a general painkiller for, I guess, general minor surgeries. Needs a prescription. It's my understanding that they load it up w/paracetamol so people will OD on that before ODing on codeine.

Cold water extraction will remove tylenol from the actual painkiller.

[Dr.3D]

No. Only Tylenol 3--it's a general painkiller for, I guess, general minor surgeries. Needs a prescription. It's my understanding that they load it up w/paracetamol so people will OD on that before ODing on codeine.

Yep, instead of getting high, they want the person to get liver damage and die.

[tod evans]

Yep, instead of getting high, they want the person to get liver damage and die.

War on us..:mad:

[eduardo89]

Bayer orange flavored kiddie aspirin...

Paregoric too.

Even on the package of that one it says not to use in children under 12 except under a doctor's orders.

[eduardo89]

No. Only Tylenol 3--it's a general painkiller for, I guess, general minor surgeries. Needs a prescription. It's my understanding that they load it up w/paracetamol so people will OD on that before ODing on codeine.

Oh ok, that makes sense. In Canada you can get paracetamol with codeine over the counter no problem, it's what I use for my migraines. Ibuprofen/paracetamol/aspirin are useless.

[donnay]

Butterbur extract (http://www.professionalsupplementcenter.com/IntegrativeTherapeuticsPetadolex.htm) and/or feverfew extract (ht.professionalsupplementcenter.com/HerbPharmFeverfew.htm?) works wonders for people who suffer migraines. I also take Taurine (http://www.professionalsupplementcenter.com/PureEncapsulationsTaurine1000mg.htm?) daily as an antidote for the migraines I get from MSG and Aspartame.

The best part it doesn't hurt my liver.

[tod evans]

Even on the package of that one it says not to use in children under 12 except under a doctor's orders.

Dr.3-D and I weren't talking about modern day litigious society...

http://wings.buffalo.edu/aru/paregoric2.jpg

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/98/d1/a8/98d1a83dbe1fdc5db3a65f068ca7b7fa.jpg

[Origanalist]

[QUOTE=tod evans;5335018]Dr.3-D and I weren't talking about modern day litigious society...


CAUTION! COFFEE IS HOT!!!!!!

[angelatc]

Bayer orange flavored kiddie aspirin...

Paregoric too.


They still make baby asprin.

[angelatc]

OTC in Canada?

I hate that I am old, but I remember when it was OTC here too. Then it sent behind the counter and you had to sign for it, sort of like the drugs used to make meth are now. Finally it went to prescription only.

Because freedom grows.

[Intoxiklown]

Hasn't it always been known that in large doses paracetamol is bad for your liver?


This is exactly what has me confused as to the arguments here as well. It has ALWAYS been common knowledge that these drugs are very hard on your liver, and can cause multiple medical problems. And even at recommended doses, prolonged use DOES cause damage to the liver.

I mean....are people here seriously saying they did not know this, or that it is not true????

[Dr.3D]

I hate that I am old, but I remember when it was OTC here too. Then it sent behind the counter and you had to sign for it, sort of like the drugs used to make meth are now. Finally it went to prescription only.

Because freedom grows.
I have to wonder how much of the change is because of the American Medical Association working to make it that way.

They probably just want to make sure the physicians get their office call money.

[angelatc]

I have to wonder how much of the change is because of the American Medical Association working to make it that way.

They probably just want to make sure the physicians get their office call money.

No, I think it was the war on drugs.

[angelatc]

And even at recommended doses, prolonged use DOES cause damage to the liver.



While there were studies that suggested that in the '70's, they don't believe that to be true any longer.

http://www.medicinenet.com/tylenol_liver_damage/article.htm#do_the_recommended_doses_of_tylenol_ca use_any_liver_damage

[Dr.3D]

No, I think it was the war on drugs.
So Canada doesn't have as much of a war on drugs as we have here?
Guess that makes sense.

[donnay]

Avoid common painkillers and cold remedies that destroy your liver and more


Thursday, January 02, 2014
by: Paul Fassa

Do you know what over-the-counter pharmaceuticals Tylenol, Excedrin, NyQuil, Theraflu and prescription painkillers Vicoden and Percocet have in common? They all contain an ingredient that has forced almost 80,000 ER (emergency room) visits, 26,000 hospitalizations and around 500 deaths annually.

That ingredient is acetaminophen. Ironically, concern over liver damage has influenced some physicians to change patients over to more addictive OxyContin to avoid liver damage from long term use of prescribed painkillers that have acetaminophen as partial ingredients.

Most overdose cases have been accidental, often by using more than one pharmaceutical containing acetaminophen at the same time. Some have been intentionally self-destructive, as in suicidal.

But the fact remains that acetaminophen is a liver toxin. Those with liver conditions, such as hepatitis or fatty liver, should avoid acetaminophen products completely.

Acetaminophen toxicity from supposedly benign pain killers and cold remedies is the number one cause of acute liver failure in America. And acute liver failure is a one-way ticket to the great beyond (http://www.medpagetoday.com).

A Journal of the American Medical Association study has determined that even taking acetaminophen products as directed causes liver damage. With all the toxins in our environment that our livers and kidneys need to handle, we don't need to damage either. (Source below)

Recently, it's been discovered that mixing alcohol with acetaminophen pharmaceuticals could be more disastrous. That includes taking Tylenol or Excedrin to remedy hangover headaches the day after drinking too much. Not only is this a whammy on the liver, but it can also induce kidney disease, a double whammy cocktail for sure.

If one is spared from liver or kidney damage, long term use of acetaminophen pharmaceuticals can lead to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and a variety of blood cancers.

Studies have associated steady acetaminophen use with a twofold increased risk of hematologic malignancies (http://www.naturalnews.com).


Acetaminophen antidotes

Hospital emergency rooms are equipped with injectable, or IV, high-potency NAC (N-acetylcysteine) to protect the liver from acetaminophen poisoning by stimulating master antioxidant glutathione production in the liver. (Source below)

Acetaminophen depletes glutathione. If depleted too rapidly, the liver is overstressed to the point of acute liver failure. NAC supplements can be taken orally to increase or maintain your liver's glutathione production.

If caught early enough, food-grade activated charcoal powder administered orally can remove acetaminophen toxins effectively. Some ER vehicles are equipped with food-grade activated charcoal powder for a variety of poison calls. Food-grade activated charcoal powder is an excellent first aid item to have on hand.

It's inexpensive and can be used as a chelator for detoxing now and then for a couple of weeks at a time by mixing the powder in water and drinking it, which is more effective than using capsules (http://www.naturalnews.com).

But the best antidote is avoidance. Read those over-the-counter labels carefully. Those name-brand acetaminophen products have a few generics and spin-offs.

Better yet, find natural cold remedies and painkillers by searching Natural News articles by using the search box in the upper right hand corner of the site's main page.

Sources for this article include:

JAMA study article on acetaminophen as directed liver damage (also links to study abstract):
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com

Alcohol-acetaminophen cocktails:
http://consumer.healthday.com

NAC treatment for acute liver toxicity:
http://emedicine.medscape.com

http://www.nabp.net

http://www.fda.gov

http://science.naturalnews.com



Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/043377_painkillers_cold_remedies_liver_failure.htm l#ixzz2pHjnMt2v

[navy-vet]

You can now get codeine tablets without Tylenol or any other additive. Prescription of course, although I bet most docs will resist it.

[amy31416]

Just started reading up on Corydalis yanhusuo: http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-chinese-medicine-chronic-pain-20140102,0,5530097.story#axzz2pINnxy9m


The Corydalis plant is a member of the poppy family. It grows mainly in central eastern China, and has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. Its tubers are dug up, ground, and then boiled in hot vinegar. The resulting medicine is often prescribed to treat headaches and back pain.

Related to the poppy family, so get some tubers while you can if interested. Looks like an easy extraction, though I have no idea yet how I'd do quantitative analysis.

The study referenced (not full text, unfortunately): http://www.cell.com/current-biology/retrieve/pii/S0960982213014942

[tod evans]

Just started reading up on Corydalis yanhusuo: http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-chinese-medicine-chronic-pain-20140102,0,5530097.story#axzz2pINnxy9m



Related to the poppy family, so get some tubers while you can if interested. Looks like an easy extraction, though I have no idea yet how I'd do quantitative analysis.

The study referenced (not full text, unfortunately): http://www.cell.com/current-biology/retrieve/pii/S0960982213014942

Erowid has a blurb;

http://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=18482

[MelissaWV]

Most overdose cases have been accidental, often by using more than one pharmaceutical containing acetaminophen at the same time. Some have been intentionally self-destructive, as in suicidal.

But the fact remains that acetaminophen is a liver toxin. Those with liver conditions, such as hepatitis or fatty liver, should avoid acetaminophen products completely.

This isn't new, nor is the labeling new. It is just going to be more pronounced. The pressure to get 10,000 other things onto the label in order to avoid lawsuits and to make a product internationally marketable is what makes them difficult to read to begin with, but that part's left out because the mean ole pharmaceutical industry wants to kill all of its customers yep. This is pretty much the only country that is full of such idiots that it needs a giant "READ THE LABEL" warning, rather than just having the warnings spelled out. Look at older labels on products and you'll notice the difference.

Do not exceed recommended dose (no kidding?)
Read label (aren't I already reading you?)
Line up arrows to open cap (what? Really?)
Long, long warnings about everything under the sun --- including the warning not to take the product at all if you have liver problems. This just in: if you have liver issues, almost anything that makes your liver work harder is going to be frowned upon.
Oh and yes, your other doses of this same active ingredient count towards your OD potential (wow! I could not have figured that out!)

Ah and lastly, fevers. Why would anyone want to bring down a 104 fever cooking their child's brain? I mean, it's only natural or something!

[Acala]

Cold water extraction will remove tylenol from the actual painkiller.

Now THIS is some useful information.

I haven't touched acetaminophen since back in the day when I was a toxicologist in a medical lab. I used to run stat drug screens from the ERs in town. I learned that when it was an acetaminphen overdose, the patient would seem to recover after a few hours and then die a few days later from liver failure. Not good. I take aspirin on rare occasions but generally don't need any pain relief, fortunately.

[Acala]

Just started reading up on Corydalis yanhusuo: http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-chinese-medicine-chronic-pain-20140102,0,5530097.story#axzz2pINnxy9m



Related to the poppy family, so get some tubers while you can if interested. Looks like an easy extraction, though I have no idea yet how I'd do quantitative analysis.

The study referenced (not full text, unfortunately): http://www.cell.com/current-biology/retrieve/pii/S0960982213014942

Interesting. Sounds like a good thing to have in the medicine cabinet.

[amy31416]

Interesting. Sounds like a good thing to have in the medicine cabinet.

I thought so too, especially because it works differently--sometimes acetaminophen and the like don't work well anyways for certain types of pain. I did find it for sale on Amazon, but it looked a little sketchy.

[Acala]

I thought so too, especially because it works differently--sometimes acetaminophen and the like don't work well anyways for certain types of pain. I did find it for sale on Amazon, but it looked a little sketchy.

Hahahaha. I followed in your footsteps. Looked at the products on Amazon and decided I had no basis upon which to choose and gave up.

Opium poppies are easy to grow, if somewhat frowned upon by certain psychopathic authoritarians.

[amy31416]

Hahahaha. I followed in your footsteps. Looked at the products on Amazon and decided I had no basis upon which to choose and gave up.

Opium poppies are easy to grow, if somewhat frowned upon by certain psychopathic authoritarians.

This plant looks like it blends right in with wild flowers, though I do want to grow poppies as well.

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTiQD49ssFk_cv28eBo1SmGtPK8ksgVS gd5-1t6hNgcogNGuMB0iQ

[donnay]

Ah and lastly, fevers. Why would anyone want to bring down a 104 fever cooking their child's brain? I mean, it's only natural or something!

Having fever is actually a good thing. A fever can help your child's body fight off infection. So many people want to suppress the fever. The body temperature has to be above 108 degrees to cause any damage.

[amy31416]

Having fever is actually a good thing. A fever can help your child's body fight off infection. So many people want to suppress the fever. The body temperature has to be above 108 degrees to cause any damage.

INCORRECT.

If a child has a fever around 103F, GET THE KID TO THE HOSPITAL. Some sites recommend taking your kid to the doc with even lower temperatures.

YOUR CHILD WILL LIKELY DIE IF YOU LET THEIR TEMPERATURE GET ANYWHERE NEAR 108F.

Donnay, this is why you piss people off.

http://www.webmd.com/first-aid/fevers-causes-symptoms-treatments
http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-fever/basics/ART-20056685



When to seek medical help
Get medical help for a fever if:

A baby younger than 3 months has a rectal temperature of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher, even if your baby doesn't have other signs or symptoms
A baby older than 3 months has a temperature of 102 F (38.9 C) or higher
A child younger than age 2 has a fever longer than one day, or a child age 2 or older has a fever longer than three days
An adult has a temperature of more than 103 F (39.4 C) or has had a fever for more than three days
When to seek emergency help
Call your doctor immediately if your child has a fever after being left in a hot car or if a child or adult has any of these signs or symptoms with a fever:

A severe headache
Sore throat
Unusual skin rash
Unusual eye sensitivity to bright light
A stiff neck and pain when the head is bent forward
Mental confusion
Persistent vomiting
Difficulty breathing or chest pain
Extreme listlessness or irritability
Abdominal pain or pain when urinating
Other unexplained symptoms


Adults

Call your doctor if:

Your temperature is more than 103 F (39.4 C)
You've had a fever for more than three days
In addition, seek immediate medical attention if any of these signs or symptoms accompanies a fever:

Severe headache
Severe throat swelling
Unusual skin rash, especially if the rash rapidly worsens
Unusual sensitivity to bright light
Stiff neck and pain when you bend your head forward
Mental confusion
Persistent vomiting
Difficulty breathing or chest pain
Extreme listlessness or irritability
Abdominal pain or pain when urinating
Any other unexplained signs or symptoms

[GunnyFreedom]

This is news? I thought everyone knew acetaminophen made your liver explode.

[donnay]

INCORRECT.

If a child has a fever around 103F, GET THE KID TO THE HOSPITAL. Some sites recommend taking your kid to the doc with even lower temperatures.

YOUR CHILD WILL LIKELY DIE IF YOU LET THEIR TEMPERATURE GET ANYWHERE NEAR 108F.

Donnay, this is why you piss people off.

http://www.webmd.com/first-aid/fevers-causes-symptoms-treatments
http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-fever/basics/ART-20056685



Can a high body temperature cause brain damage in my child?
Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine Follow


Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine answered


It is very unlikely that a high body temperature will cause brain damage. It is very rare that a fever will go above 105 degrees. The hypothalamus is a part of the brain that regulates body temperature and will not let the body get much warmer unless it is damaged. This can happen in patients with meningitis or encephalitis or poisoning, but is very unlikely in any other infections in which children have fever, and so it is extremely unlikely that a fever will cause brain damage.


Developing brain damage from fevers is an urban legend. Fevers that are caused by infection do not cause brain damage. It takes an extremely high body temperature, such as 108°F (42.2°C), to cause brain damage. This can occur with high environmental temperatures such as those found in an enclosed car on a hot day, not typically from a common illness such as a cold or an ear infection. So the important lesson learned is to never leave your child alone in the car.

http://www.sharecare.com/health/infectious-disease/can-high-temperature-cause-brain-damage-in-child


Fevers cause brain damage or fevers over 104°F are dangerous. Although seeing a temperature reading about 104° can cause alarm, fevers with infections don't cause brain damage. Only internal temperatures of 108°F or higher, which are extremely rare, can cause brain damage.

http://health.ktvb.com/article.php?pr=0&ar=421&geo=id


Benefits of Having a Fever
http://www.parents.com/health/fever/fever-benefits/

Is Fear of Fever Hurting Our Children?
http://vran.org/alternatives/alternatives-general/is-fear-of-fever-hurting-our-children/

ETA:

Fever - Myths Versus Facts
http://www.allkids.org/PediatricSymptomChecker/housecalls3tab_english/peds/fever_myths.htm

[amy31416]

Developing brain damage from fevers is an urban legend. Fevers that are caused by infection do not cause brain damage. It takes an extremely high body temperature, such as 108°F (42.2°C), to cause brain damage.


Only internal temperatures of 108°F or higher, which are extremely rare, can cause brain damage.

Sooooo....since you're okay with leaving someone with a 108 temp alone, you're okay with brain damage? Even your "natural" sources state what I did--it's extremely dangerous, and will result in irreparable brain damage or death. Babies, health compromised and the elderly are even more susceptible.

And one other thing--those thermometers you use at home are +/- 1 degree at best. And children do become more susceptible to seizures beyond 102 degrees.

Why are you encouraging people to do something so risky? The ideal temperature for someone fighting a cold (healthy adult) is around 101-102, certainly not 108. And many sources stated that brain damage begins around 107 degrees, while some went with 108.

[donnay]

Sooooo....since you're okay with leaving someone with a 108 temp alone, you're okay with brain damage? Even your "natural" sources state what I did--it's extremely dangerous, and will result in irreparable brain damage or death. Babies, health compromised and the elderly are even more susceptible.

And one other thing--those thermometers you use at home are +/- 1 degree at best. And children do become more susceptible to seizures beyond 102 degrees.

Why are you encouraging people to do something so risky? The ideal temperature for someone fighting a cold (healthy adult) is around 101-102, certainly not 108. And many sources stated that brain damage begins around 107 degrees, while some went with 108.

I didn't say I would leave someone with a 108 degree temp. Wow, what a leap you make. :eek: Many people freak out when their child has a fever and immediately want to give them acetaminophen or ibuprofen --lots of myths out there about how fevers "cook the brain"--that is why I responded to that remark. One should monitor the fever, and keep their child hydrated but not suppress the fever. The fever is the immune system fighting.

Lot's of children have fevers and febrile seizures after receiving vaccines--one of which is the pertussis vaccine...does that not worry you? Some people I know who vaccinate their children have been told to give their children acetaminophen before their vaccines visits.

[amy31416]

Having fever is actually a good thing. A fever can help your child's body fight off infection. So many people want to suppress the fever. The body temperature has to be above 108 degrees to cause any damage.


I didn't say I would leave someone with a 108 degree temp. Wow, what a leap you make. :eek: Many people freak out when their child has a fever and immediately want to give them acetaminophen or ibuprofen --lots of myths out there about how fevers "cook the brain"--that is why I responded to that remark. One should monitor the fever, and keep their child hydrated but not suppress the fever. The fever is the immune system fighting.

Lot's of children have fevers and febrile seizures after receiving vaccines--one of which is the pertussis vaccine...does that not worry you? Some people I know who vaccinate their children have been told to give their children acetaminophen before their vaccines visits.

You 100% implied that it's fine to ignore a fever until it gets around 108 degrees, and that is stupid and dangerous. Fevers do "cook" the brain if they're allowed to get too high, and they do cause seizures at even lower levels.

This is not about vaccines, this is about fevers. My daughter, her 14 cousins--none of them had seizures. However, two cousins DID have seizures from high fevers--fortunately one was already in the hospital, and the other one was at home...she almost completely stopped talking after that. The doctors say that her experience with the seizure was highly traumatic. And no doctor ever told me to give my daughter acetaminophen for anything, certainly not vaccines.

You need to be far more careful with this "medical" hobby of yours when you don't know what you're talking about--a fever over 104 SHOULD be medically treated, and that may include suppression. It's so rare that a person will have fevers higher than that that it's worth it to use acetaminophen if necessary. Especially in the young and elderly.

If you want to beat the dead vaccine horse, go to a thread about them and thrash away, I'm done with you on that subject.

[angelatc]

Sooooo....since you're okay with leaving someone with a 108 temp alone, you're okay with brain damage? Even your "natural" sources state what I did--it's extremely dangerous, and will result in irreparable brain damage or death. Babies, health compromised and the elderly are even more susceptible.

And one other thing--those thermometers you use at home are +/- 1 degree at best. And children do become more susceptible to seizures beyond 102 degrees.

Why are you encouraging people to do something so risky? The ideal temperature for someone fighting a cold (healthy adult) is around 101-102, certainly not 108. And many sources stated that brain damage begins around 107 degrees, while some went with 108.


Not to mention that it doesn't take long at all for a fever to climb. If a fever has climbed up to 105, it could easily reach 107 or higher in a really short period of time.

Like Amy said, this is why DonnaY's "hobby" of dispensing medical advice is dangerous.

My pediatricians always specifically advised us not to give the kids Tylenol or the like before the shots. I always just figured that the immune system was supposed to get fired up a little from the vaccines. But there were other Moms who gave their kids a dose. I don't know if their MDs told them to, or if they just did it on their own.

And febrile seizures are more commonly triggered by a fever that rises fast, as opposed to one that just climbs high.

[Keith and stuff]

The other thing about this nasty stuff is if you sociably drink and use Tylenol it like a double whammy on your liver.
That's good advice. If you regularly drink 3 or more drinks a day, I wouldn't even recommend using Tylenol in recommended does. It's best never to take it for a hangover.

[donnay]

For Clued-in Moms, Fever is a Friend

Put down that Tylenol.

Hang up the phone to the pediatrician’s office.

Don’t touch the analgesics.

You can do this on your own! Fever is not a bad word. It is your friend.



In fact, it’s the mechanism that the body has intuitively designed to cook off illnesses such as the flu, colds, ear infections and the like. And it serves an important purpose because it is the body’s way of curing the illness.

Did you hear me? Fever is the body’s way to rid us of illness.

Then why eradicate the cure by administering a synthetic drug, such as Tylenol, aspirin and the like?

Certainly, we don’t want our child to suffer needlessly, but by employing meds to suppress a fever, we’re chemically forcing the body to stop treating itself with its natural promise of resolution.

What Some (Good) Doctors Say

In the words of my all-time favorite pediatric hero, Dr. Robert Mendelsohn, in his book, How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor, “There is a common misconception that the height of body temperature is an indication of the severity of an illness…Research has shown that more than half of all parents consider a fever high at levels between 100-102. And almost all believe it is high if it reaches 103 degrees. These parents are also convinced that the height of a fever indicates how sick their child is. This emphatically is not the case. Knowing the level of your child’s fever will tell you nothing of how sick he is or if the fever is produced by a viral or bacterial infection. There’s nothing to be gained by measuring its climb and by doing so will only magnify your fears and upset the child. Even a temperate of 105 need not be a cause of concern.”

Even Dr. Sears is quoted on his site regarding normal childhood illnesses as saying, “Fevers are not serious. Many parents have a misconception that fevers are a bad thing and a sign that there is some serious underlying illness. This simply is not true. Fever is a normal and healthy response of the body to an illness. The body’s immune system releases chemicals that raise the body temperature. This is part of the normal infection-fighting process.”

Dr. Tomas Cowan MD, presenter at the Weston A. Price conference two years ago, made it clear that fever may be instrumental in warding off the potential of cancer in the future. He elaborated that every case in which the child is allowed to present a nice high fever, it potentially inadvertently protects from cancer later in life.

I know, I know. It can be difficult to resist the temptation to give children “a little something for that fever”. After all, we certainly don’t want them to suffer the pain of an ear infection or a sore throat. But, if we understand that the medications of commerce will often cause further affliction in the future, the choice is easier.

Ok, So How Do I Do This?

When a fever appears to be debilitating, what’s a parent to do? I reach for one of my lovely homeopathic cell salts…Ferr phos 6x. It’s the remedy that aids during any inflammation and may help the child get over the illness in shorter time and step into full bloom again with fewer accompanying symptoms.

Four pills is a dose, regardless of the age of the child, and it can be offered directly into the mouth every 4 hours for as long as the little one is sick.

Once the worst is over, then Ferr phos 6x offered in combination with Calc phos 6x is a great way to ensure convalescence. This combo is what I call the “finishing touch” to a good productive fever. The way I have used it for my feverish children is as follows: 1PM is time for Ferr phos, 3PM Calc phos, 5PM back to Ferr phos, and so on.



My favorite company for homeopathic cell salts is Hyland’s, which can be found at most health food stores, some with-it pharmacies and on-line.

When used correctly, homeopathic cell salts are not only inexpensive but nontoxic. That means no side effects.

Can you think of any conventional meds like this?

Yeah, me neither.

But That’s Not All

But these little cell salts don’t just stop at fevers. Ferr phos 6x is a premier remedy for anemia and frequent nose bleeds. I’ve used Calc phos 6x for my children’s dental issues such as teeth that were growing in crooked and premature cavities, growing pains, nervousness, insomnia and even fusing of broken bones. (Actually, that was for my father.) My time-tested tips and tricks as a homeopath have allowed me complete freedom from conventional pediatric dependency.

Take Away

In a world that encourages moms to depend on big pharma and its advocates and to feed our families on the fly, homeopathy, instead, celebrates the home, the cuddle of children and just the right dose of information.

But don’t stop here. There are 12 Homeopathic Cell Salts that you can learn to employ to empower your healing ability – low potency, very easy to learn, inexpensive to own, efficacious and safe.

Ferr phos 6x and Calc phos 6x offer rational medicine that empowers mothers and has done so for more than 150 years.

Long-established traditions. Informed parenting. Two little homeopathic cell salts. How easy.


- See more at: http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/for-clued-in-moms-fever-is-a-friend/#sthash.S0okdlqP.dpuf

[MelissaWV]

So, to recap:

Fevers are good, don't fight them.

But she didn't say not to fight really high fevers; that'd be awful and putting words in her mouth.

But there's a doctor that says fevers of 105 are just fine and not cause for alarm, and actually prevents future cancer.

...

[donnay]

Fevers in Children

There is a curious phenomenon that goes on in science: as we study the physical world, inevitably we uncover facts that contradict old assumptions. As scientists are seekers after the truth wherever it may be found, one would expect that they would quickly revise or even discard old, unproven theories when new facts and discoveries emerge. In fact, in many cases just the opposite occurs; "the scientific community" often circles the wagons and protects its pet theories.

Consider, for example, the pyramids of Egypt. The current "scientific" theory holds that modern civilization has reached the pinnacle of engineering achievement. However, recently discovered facts about the Great Pyramid of Giza reveal that somehow, someone lifted precision cut granite "bricks" weighing over 70 tons each over 150 feet in the air and then precisely fitted them into a complex geometrically engineered structure, an achievement which we can’t even begin to match in 2005.

Or how about the fact that modern scientists maintain the theory that the DNA contains separate genes, each of which codes a distinct protein. One DNA sequence, one protein; that is the central dogma of genetics. However, with the completion of the human genome project we learned that humans have about 200,000 or more proteins, and only about 30,000 genes. The central dogma is flawed, in fact the proteins re-arrange the DNA sequences to "code" for what "they" want, a phenomenon that has been shown in many studies. Unfortunately, we still teach the old "truths," ignoring the contradictory facts.

In discussing how to treat children who are sick, we encounter a number of discoveries contradict which our current view of infectious illness. Our current view of infectious illness in children is that these episodes are caused by unseen viruses and bacteria that invade us, overwhelm our immune systems, and should be prevented, avoided, or gotten rid of as quickly and as aggressively as possible. In other words, our philosophy of illness pretends that these episodes of sickness are more or less unrelated chance episodes and there is no good outcome from being sick.

The Purpose of Fever

The facts, however, tell a different story. For example, all the pediatric textbooks tell us that a child who has nephrotic syndrome, a disease in which the kidneys begin to leak out protein, will most likely be cured if he simultaneously contracts measles. In fact, measles is the only known cure for nephrotic syndrome, which is otherwise treated with the misery of long-term prednisone. Interestingly, giving a measles vaccine doesn’t work, it doesn’t cure nephrotic syndrome.

Those who have read my book The Fourfold Path to Healing know that the whole history of the treatment of cancer is intimately related to the phenomenon of infectious disease. There are numerous recorded cases of cancers going into remission when the patient contracts an infectious disease, strep being the most likely candidate to cure the patient of cancer. Strep has been used in cancer vaccines, most particularly by the surgeon John Coley, MD who reported an almost 40 percent remission rate in patients with cancer who received his cancer vaccine. In modern oncology, the tuberculosis bacillus is still used in bladder cancer as it is injected into the bladders of those with this form of cancer. In fact, some pediatricians and oncologists have postulated the modern epidemic of cancer in children as the predictable outcome of our mania for preventing fever in our children, by giving them aspirin, tylenol and anti-biotics.

Clearly, there is more to the story of infections than just bad luck, something to be got rid of at all costs. Let’s look deeper into this story. When a child becomes sick with a fever, a number of processes are activated in his body, processes that we can see and experience without the use of special insight or fancy instruments. First, there is increased warmth, both locally (at the site of the "infection," such as the tonsils) and systemically. This systemic response is measured by the elevated temperature on the thermometer. Second, there is pain, again both locally and sometimes body aches that are felt everywhere. Third, there is swelling. Finally, there is redness. The last two are mainly at the site of the infections, but to a certain extent we see the child’s whole face becoming slightly more red and even a bit swollen. Pathology textbooks identify these changes as the four cardinal signs of inflammation.

In Fourfold I discuss the theory that we actually have four "bodies," each of which participates in every inflammation and each of which is activated when we are sick. The physical or earth body becomes red, the fluid or etheric body takes on more fluid which we call swelling, the emotional body or astral body experiences a heightened sense of feeling, which we call pain, and the warmth body or mental body gets involved and raises our temperature. This activation of the four bodies is particularly acute in children because the whole process of being a child is to grow into and reshape our bodies to "fit" our individual purpose in life.

Another way to put this is that when a child encounters an impediment, say a foreign protein or an organ that is not being formed quite right, he goes into "remodeling mode." The remodeling is done by tearing down the old, misshapen matter, taking it out to the dumpster, and then rebuilding a more suitable house to inhabit. This is exactly what is done through illness. Take measles: the temperature goes up to 104, the eyes water, the nose runs, the lungs cough up mucus, the kidneys excrete extra broken down proteins, the bowels are loose and the child aches all over. These symptoms herald the construction of a newer, healthier body, one that is more individualized to the dynamics of the child. This is a profoundly healing and spiritual process, and like everything of such gravity, it has its risks and dangers. The risk of a snake shedding its skin, of a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, of striving to do something that has never been done before, is that you can fail and fall into the abyss. Not trying, however, is even worse. Our job as parents and doctors is to help the child cross the bridge of illness with our loving, caring, intelligent guidance as we experience the natural processes that are at work as our children struggle with their illnesses.

Continued... (http://www.westonaprice.org/ask-the-doctor/fevers-in-children)

[angelatc]

- See more at: http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/for-clued-in-moms-fever-is-a-friend/#sthash.S0okdlqP.dpuf


Holy smokes - I used to know Sarah Pope. Suffice to say, she isn't a doctor. She was in Computer Science when I knew her.

[donnay]

Holy smokes - I used to know Sarah Pope. Suffice to say, she isn't a doctor. She was in Computer Science when I knew her.


And then she woke up...

[donnay]

Popping pills for flu fever might make things worse

by Debora MacKenzie

Next time you feel the flu coming on, think twice before reaching for painkillers – they could do more harm than good.

With the flu season under way across Europe and North America, millions will be taking flu remedies, which commonly include painkillers. The general medical advice in the UK and the US is to take painkillers such as paracetamol (acetaminophen) or aspirin. But although painkillers can make you feel better they also lower fever, which can make the virus worse.

The first analysis of the effect of this on the population shows that painkillers taken at current levels to treat fevers could cause 2000 flu deaths each year in the US alone.

Continued... (http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24911-popping-pills-for-flu-fever-might-make-things-worse.html#.Uuwsr6Yo5jq)

[Working Poor]

The other thing about this nasty stuff is if you sociably drink and use Tylenol it like a double whammy on your liver.

I found a small article in the paper back in the middle 80's stating just that. So it is not "news" that tylenol causes liver failure. I bought 3 extra papers that day and cut the article out and laminated it and put it on the bath room mirrors of the bar that I worked in at the time. I talked to the owner of that bar not long ago and they said that it was still hanging in the bathrooms.

I am sorta angry that this is just now getting mainstream attention.

[tod evans]

There's a large portion of society that doesn't care how the body works or what effect certain chemicals have on its various parts.

This is generally the same segment that looks to chemicals to cure their ailments then blames the purveyors of said chemicals when they have problems.

We're each given one body, what we do with it is up to each of us, doctors and pharmacists can make recommendations based on statistics (or profit margins) but in the end it's our body..

[brandon]

I feel like I learned this in public school health class back in the early 90s. How is this a new warning?


I always take Ibuprofen for hangovers, or just tough it out. Or hair of the dog but that's probably for another thread.

[MRK]

Paracetamol also modulates the endogenous cannabinoid system.[73] Paracetamol is metabolised to AM404, a compound with several actions; what is most important is that it inhibits the reuptake of the endogenous cannabinoid/vanilloid anandamide by neurons. Anandamide reuptake lowers synaptic levels of anandamide and results in more activation of the main pain receptor (nociceptor) of the body, the TRPV1.

However, it has been demonstrated that, after blocking cannabinoid receptors with synthetic antagonists, paracetamol's analgesic effects are prevented, suggesting its pain-relieving action involves the endogenous cannabinoid system.[75]

So essentially, acetaminophen/Tylenol/paracetamol is a highly toxic synthetic cannibinoid reuptake inhibitor. Meanwhile, the remarkably nontoxic cannabis remains illegal under federal law.

Government; it works well.

[kathy88]

So.... The safest pain reliever seems to be the ganj FTW. Check.

[tod evans]

So.... The safest pain reliever seems to be the ganj FTW. Check.

Nothing wrong with willow bark or opium either....

[angelatc]

And then she woke up...

Yeah, she woke up and realized she could make a decent pandering to idiots while staying home with her kids, laughing all the way to the bank is more like it.

[angelatc]

There's a large portion of society that doesn't care how the body works or what effect certain chemicals have on its various parts.

This is generally the same segment that looks to chemicals to cure their ailments then blames the purveyors of said chemicals when they have problems.

.

I am not convinced you are defining the word chemicals correctly.

[tod evans]

I am not convinced you are defining the word chemicals correctly.

Feel free to substitute the more accurate "chemical compound"....

I really do type with one finger so often times I minimize word usage out of sheer laziness...

[enhanced_deficit]

Tylenol can kill you; new warning admits popular painkiller causes liver damage, death

Jonathan Benson

NyQuil, Sudafed, Excedrin and many other common drugs also contain acetaminophen

...

Heard a comedian (tall skinny Irish dude, his name escapes me right now) once say NyQuil always helped him fall asleep quickly. Was thinking of trying it one day (instead of tried and tested heavy carb dinner/dessert/warm milk) but not anymore I guess.

Now the question that is on everyone's mind, is Tylenol more or less harmful for liver than Michelob Ultralight?

[donnay]

Heard a comedian (tall skinny Irish dude, his name escapes me right now) once say NyQuil always helped him fall asleep quickly. Was thinking of trying it one day (instead of tried and tested heavy carb dinner/dessert/warm milk) but not anymore I guess.

Now the question that is on everyone's mind, is Tylenol more or less harmful for liver than Michelob Ultralight?

In combination with alcohol it is more harmful.

I have read studies where taking Tylenol and drinking coffee can hurt your liver. So I would be more inclined to say the Tylenol is much more harmful than a beer or two. But the combinations of Tylenol and a beer and Tylenol and coffee definitely can cause liver damage.

References:

http://www.hepatitiscentral.com/mt/archives/2009/02/acetaminophen_c.html
http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/09/27/mixing-tylenol-with-caffeine-may-increase-risk-liver-damage-study-finds/
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2007/09/26/food-and-drugs-can-create-a-toxic-mix

[angelatc]

Feel free to substitute the more accurate "chemical compound"....

I really do type with one finger so often times I minimize word usage out of sheer laziness...

The point was that there are also chemical (or chemical compounds) in the natural remedies you posted.

[tod evans]

The point was that there are also chemical (or chemical compounds) in the natural remedies you posted.

Why of course there are, what physical item on the planet can't be broken down and given a chemical analysis?

How about "chemical compounds synthesized by man or machine"? Is that a more accurate description?

[enhanced_deficit]

In combination with alcohol it is more harmful.

I have read studies where taking Tylenol and drinking coffee can hurt your liver. So I would be more inclined to say the Tylenol is much more harmful than a beer or two. But the combinations of Tylenol and a beer and Tylenol and coffee definitely can cause liver damage.

References:

http://www.hepatitiscentral.com/mt/archives/2009/02/acetaminophen_c.html
http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/09/27/mixing-tylenol-with-caffeine-may-increase-risk-liver-damage-study-finds/
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2007/09/26/food-and-drugs-can-create-a-toxic-mix


Yet there are ads on TV for these pills.

Very informative.

[angelatc]

Why of course there are, what physical item on the planet can't be broken down and given a chemical analysis?

How about "chemical compounds synthesized by man or machine"? Is that a more accurate description?

No. Maybe - "Chemical compounds that are not found in nature?" might be what you're getting at, but that seems to lean toward taking us back to the Dark Ages, where chemistry was akin to magic.

[tod evans]

No. Maybe - "Chemical compounds that are not found in nature?" might be what you're getting at, but that seems to lean toward taking us back to the Dark Ages, where chemistry was akin to magic.

But I'm not against minor synthesis of natures compounds such as refining opium into morphine or even morphine into heroin, cocoa leaves into cocaine, willow bark into aspirin mold into penicillin and so on..

What I'm against is people not studying what chemicals they are consuming and making sane/logical choices of what they want to put into their own body...

Here's my post from earlier where I plainly stated where I had problems with people blindly following advice of the "professionals"...


There's a large portion of society that doesn't care how the body works or what effect certain chemicals have on its various parts.

This is generally the same segment that looks to chemicals to cure their ailments then blames the purveyors of said chemicals when they have problems.

We're each given one body, what we do with it is up to each of us, doctors and pharmacists can make recommendations based on statistics (or profit margins) but in the end it's our body..

[Intoxiklown]

Let me start off by saying I love you all like play cousins......


But.....


As my other post said that this was not ground breaking news, neither is the fact that a fever is your body fighting off infection by raising the body temp to kill the infection. However, there are also safe parameters for the fever. A HIGH fever is your body reacting to a major infection, and it will continue to climb. This is because your immune system is desperate to kill what is trying to kill your body. A fever of 102? Yeah....you can let that ride a bit for a few hours. Having the stupidity to say a fever of 105 to 108 is ok, and won't damage your brain? You need to seriously stfu. I don't care what idiotic link you post by some moron preaching about evil doctors trying to make money off you. I can find you links that swear the earth is flat, and that Jesus was a lizard alien trying to take over the world.

When fevers get that high, it means your body is LOSING the fight against the infection. You have to lower the fever, and get the child medical help to use alternative means to kill the infection.

Sweet God at some of the stuff some of you run off believing........

[donnay]

Let me start off by saying I love you all like play cousins......


But.....


As my other post said that this was not ground breaking news, neither is the fact that a fever is your body fighting off infection by raising the body temp to kill the infection. However, there are also safe parameters for the fever. A HIGH fever is your body reacting to a major infection, and it will continue to climb. This is because your immune system is desperate to kill what is trying to kill your body. A fever of 102? Yeah....you can let that ride a bit for a few hours. Having the stupidity to say a fever of 105 to 108 is ok, and won't damage your brain? You need to seriously stfu. I don't care what idiotic link you post by some moron preaching about evil doctors trying to make money off you. I can find you links that swear the earth is flat, and that Jesus was a lizard alien trying to take over the world.

When fevers get that high, it means your body is LOSING the fight against the infection. You have to lower the fever, and get the child medical help to use alternative means to kill the infection.

Sweet God at some of the stuff some of you run off believing........


Reducing a fever does not make the illness go away, it will prolong it. The hypothalamus is the body's thermostat, it very rarely ever goes past 105 °F unless their is an infection to the brain like meningitis, encephalitis or poisoning. Other than those three issues it is good to allow the fever to run it's course so that it can help the body's immune system fight the illness.

One of the main things to do is keep the person with a fever hydrated while monitoring the fever. The old sayings is (which is good advice): "Feed a cold, starve a fever."



Fever is an important part of the body's defense against infection. Most bacteria and viruses that cause infections in people thrive best at 98.6 °F. Many infants and children develop high fevers with minor viral illnesses. Although a fever signals that a battle might be going on in the body, the fever is fighting for the person, not against.

Brain damage from a fever generally will not occur unless the fever is over 107.6 °F (42 °C). Untreated fevers caused by infection will seldom go over 105 °F unless the child is overdressed or trapped in a hot place.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003090.htm

[Fox McCloud]

Hasn't it always been known that in large doses paracetamol is bad for your liver?

As far as I know; I recall it being incessantly mentioned how horrendous of an idea it was to drink and take paracetamol at the same time.

[donnay]

As far as I know; I recall it being incessantly mentioned how horrendous of an idea it was to drink and take paracetamol at the same time.

Even drinking any caffeinated drinks and taking Tylenol (paracetamol) is bad for your liver.

[donnay]

PAIN KILLER Taking too much paracetamol ‘is as dangerous to your liver as cancer’
Paracetamol can damage liver tissue structure, meaning cells are unable to function properly and may die

By ANDREA DOWNEY
1st February 2017

COMMON pain killer paracetamol could be as bad for your liver as cancer, experts have warned.

Poisoning caused by taking too much paracetamol can damage the liver, be difficult to treat and may prove fatal.

Researchers believe their findings could shape further research into therapies to counteract the harm caused by excessive doses of the drug – the leading cause of acute liver failure in the western world.

Scientists at the University of Edinburgh studied the impact of the painkiller on liver cells in human and mouse tissue.

Their tests showed that in certain settings, paracetamol can damage the liver by harming the vital structural connections between adjacent cells in the organ.

When these cell wall connections – known as tight junctions – are disrupted, the liver tissue structure is damaged, the cells are unable to function properly and they may die.

Scientists said this type of cell damage was known to occur in liver conditions including hepatitis, cirrhosis, and cancer, but has not been linked to paracetamol toxicity until now.

Researchers say they will now seek to examine how varying paracetamol doses and timescales affects toxicity in the liver, and identify potential targets for new drugs.

Read more: https://www.thesun.co.uk/living/2757412/taking-too-much-paracetamol-is-as-dangerous-to-your-liver-as-cancer/

[Zippyjuan]

Caused by massive overdosing- not normal usage.


excessive doses

[donnay]

Caused by massive overdosing- not normal usage.

What about people with arthritic pain who take it everyday to get by? Would you consider that excessive? It is also in OTC cold medicines and other OTC products.

[Zippyjuan]

It isn't prescribed for chronic pain.


It is also in OTC cold medicines and other OTC products.

Maybe if you consumed a whole box of cold medicine at once (OTC doses are very small). Not recommended somebody tries. There have been about 2000 cases a year of reported overdoses. More people OD on cough syrup.

[donnay]

It isn't prescribed for chronic pain.



Maybe if you consumed a whole box of cold medicine at once (OTC doses are very small). Not recommended somebody tries. There have been about 2000 cases a year of reported overdoses.



Paracetamol

The antipyretic and analgesic effects of paracetamol (acetaminophen or APAP) have been known since the late 19th century. It is often considered a first-line approach to pain management [51], although there is a risk of hepatoxicity at high doses. Even at recommended therapeutic doses of paracetamol up to 4 g/d, otherwise healthy adults can exhibit abnormally high levels of aminotransferase [52]. Although high doses of paracetamol are known to be toxic, such supratherapeutic doses of paracetamol are sometimes prescribed and dispensed [53]. Paracetamol is widely available over the counter and in prescription products and many combination products contain paracetamol, but patients may equate the drug’s familiarity with safety and wrongly consider it more or less harmless. Twelve percent of patients believe that it is not possible to ingest a toxic dose of paracetamol [54]. Furthermore, even patients who understand the potential toxicity of paracetamol may be unaware that it is found in a wide range of over-the-counter products from cold medicines to headache remedies. Patients taking such over-the-counter products may be unaware of “hidden paracetamol” in such products and unaware of the risk of high cumulative doses [54].

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3527878/



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBu71cNm42M

[Zippyjuan]

OTC formulas contain one quarter of the dose a prescription does. And in blended medicines, even less.

[donnay]

OTC formulas contain one quarter of the dose a prescription does. And in blended medicines, even less.

First you said it isn't used for chronic pain. I pointed out you were wrong.

Read this again Zip:


Paracetamol

The antipyretic and analgesic effects of paracetamol (acetaminophen or APAP) have been known since the late 19th century. It is often considered a first-line approach to pain management [51], although there is a risk of hepatoxicity at high doses. Even at recommended therapeutic doses of paracetamol up to 4 g/d, otherwise healthy adults can exhibit abnormally high levels of aminotransferase [52]. Although high doses of paracetamol are known to be toxic, such supratherapeutic doses of paracetamol are sometimes prescribed and dispensed [53]. Paracetamol is widely available over the counter and in prescription products and many combination products contain paracetamol, but patients may equate the drug’s familiarity with safety and wrongly consider it more or less harmless. Twelve percent of patients believe that it is not possible to ingest a toxic dose of paracetamol [54]. Furthermore, even patients who understand the potential toxicity of paracetamol may be unaware that it is found in a wide range of over-the-counter products from cold medicines to headache remedies. Patients taking such over-the-counter products may be unaware of “hidden paracetamol” in such products and unaware of the risk of high cumulative doses [54].

[donnay]

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Nov;98(11):E1757-67. doi: 10.1210/jc.2013-2531. Epub 2013 Sep 12.
Paracetamol, aspirin, and indomethacin induce endocrine disturbances in the human fetal testis capable of interfering with testicular descent.

Abstract
CONTEXT:

Masculinization depends on the fetal testis. Exposure of the human fetus during pregnancy to paracetamol and/or to other mild analgesics is associated with an increased risk of cryptorchidism.
OBJECTIVE:

We aimed to determine whether mild analgesics disrupted the morphology and endocrine function of the human testis.

...

RESULTS:

Indomethacin and aspirin stimulated testosterone production, particularly by the younger testes (8-9 GW vs 10-12 GW). Paracetamol, AM404, and ketoconazole decreased insulin-like factor 3 levels. Aspirin stimulated whereas ketoconazole inhibited AMH production. PGE2 levels were inhibited by paracetamol and aspirin in the 7 to 12 GW testes and by indomethacin but only in 7 to 9.86 GW testes. The inhibitory trends seen for PGD2 were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS:

Analgesics at concentrations relevant to human exposure cause endocrine disturbances in the fetal testis.

We suggest that the fetal human testis displays slight critical age windows for sensitivity to direct exposure to aspirin, indomethacin, and paracetamol. The analgesic-induced inhibition of INSL3 may be the mechanism by which analgesics increase the risk of cryptorchidism. Greater caution is required concerning consumption of analgesics during pregnancy.


https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24030937