Acetaminophen (also labeled as Paracetamol, or more commonly known as Tylenol) is one of the most widely used OTC (over the counter) pain medications on the shelves today. Most of us don’t even think twice about taking something we can readily obtain from a local store when the occasional ache or pain calls for such. However, acetaminophen may just be one of the most dangerous choices on the market. Even when taken as prescribed, acetaminophen can be potentially life-threatening. As with many OTC medications, we tend to be a bit too liberal with dosage recommendations, rarely fearing taking 3 or 4 rather than the suggested 2 pills. When it comes to this pain reliever, failing to adhere to the recommended dosages could prove to be lethal. Severe health problems like liver damage and death have been reported even in so-called “mild” overdoses. In fact, hospitals deal with more acetaminophen overdoses annually than they do opiate overdoses. I can only imagine the shock and dismay, or your utter refusal to believe such a statistic — especially considering you’ve probably never heard of any of this….. Continue reading “Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and the hidden dangers”
