Acetaminophen and alcohol
Acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol) is a medication used to treat pain and fever, especially when you have a cold. Some people use it to relieve fever in children and even to treat severe pain, such as headaches, menstrual periods, toothaches, backaches, and osteoarthritis. Of course, there are many brands and products that contain acetaminophen and Tylenol is one of them – very common in the United States.
However, medical experts suggest avoiding this product when you drink alcohol, plus, you shouldn’t take more acetaminophen than recommended. Also, if you want to give it to your child, make sure that your doctor has recommended a product specifically designed for children.
Higher doses of paracetamol and taken after alcohol consumption can lead to toxicity, including liver failure. According to Jessica Nouhavandi, PharmD, Co-CEO and cofounder of Honeybee Health in Culver City, California, “when combined with alcohol, you may be at an increased risk of liver toxicity.”
Of course, people who drink alcohol regularly and take acetaminophen often are more likely to develop liver toxicity. Annually, between 55,000 and 80,000 patients in the United States end up at the hospital because of paracetamol overdoses. According to statistics, at least 500 of them can no longer be saved.
You might also like: 5 Healthy Foods High In Antioxidants.
