Accidental Tylenol Overdoses

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Many Acetaminophen Overdoses are Accidental

In January of 2011, the Food and Drug Administration released a warning for consumers about the dangers of overdosing on acetaminophen, a very popular pain-relieving drug. The FDA’s warning explained that a significant number of people have suffered severe liver damage because of overdosing on the medication, found in many prescription and over the counter medicines, including Tylenol.

The FDA is now asking manufacturers to limit the amount of acetaminophen in a dose to 325 milligrams. They recommend that an individual not exceed 4,000 milligrams of the substance a day, because exceeding this amount may lead to substantial liver injury, which might require a liver transplant or lead to death. Tylenol, a popular medicine used to reduce fever and manage pain, will now fall under these new regulations.

A large reason for the FDA warnings is the fact that many people have been overdosing on products that contain acetaminophen, like Tylenol. Many of these overdoses have been accidental. One reason people overdose is that they are taking more than one medication at a time, both of which contain acetaminophen. For example, a person taking prescription medication for migraine headaches who also takes Tylenol could be overdosing on the substance. For people who take a number of medications on a regular basis, it can be difficult to know which ones do and do not contain acetaminophen.

Another cause of accidental overdose is taking the medication with alcohol. Many individuals who have been drinking try to avoid the morning-after headache by taking a pain reliever before they go to sleep. However, this is very dangerous, as the combination of alcohol and acetaminophen on the liver is highly dangerous and potentially lethal. Generally, it is wise to wait at least 8 hours after drinking before taking a pain reliever such as Tylenol.

Finally, sometimes people accidentally overdose simply by not reading product labels and taking only the recommended dose. Even if the pain is not reduced after taking 325 milligrams of acetaminophen, you should not take more right away. Mistakenly taking more than 4,000 milligrams in one 24 hour period can be very harmful for the liver.

Ultimately, because of the high number of reported cases of severe liver damage, the FDA has been taking steps to ensure manufacturers distribute safe dosages of acetaminophen and that the public consumes it safely.