Increased Incidence of Liver Failure With Tylenol Use
The liver toxicity of acetaminophen has been known for years, however a recent study shows that liver damage caused by the drug is on the rise. The damage is caused by an overdose of the drug, and the number of unintentional overdoses is increasing. Acetominophen is found in a variety of pain relivers and cold remedies. The active ingredient in Tylenol, the drug is also found in a variety of other products including Excedrin, Midol Teen Formula, Theraflu, Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine, and NyQuil Cold and Flu. It is easy to see how consumers can unwillingly take too much of the drug when mixing these over-the-counter medications. Unfortunately the effects of the overdose are severe, with many cases involving complete liver failure.
Inadequate warnings on the labels of products containing acetaminophen are to blame. With the amount of OTC pain relivers and cold remedies on the market, it is very important for the amount of acetaminophen to be clearly labeled and for the consumer to carefully consider the amount ingested.
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