Stop your worrying about Tylenol pills safety

Good old Tylenol®. Maybe you use this long-trusted painkiller pills for your menstrual cramps, headaches, or arthritis pain. Your youngster’s pediatrician likely recommends it as well for children’s pain, even advising multiple doses around the clock during illnesses.

But recently the FDA has called into question the safety of acetaminophen, Tylenol pills active ingredient, and media reports are saying acetaminophen can damage a person’s liver. So you’re starting to worry that you might have harmed yourself or a loved one.

Well, STOP! Please, stop your worrying.

Acetaminophen is a truly safe pill for reducing fevers and treating pain. Unless you have a known liver disease like hepatitis, or are on medications that are themselves toxic to the liver or that already contain acetaminophen, the current dosing guidelines for Tylenol are very safe.

In fact, the most common mistake I see people make with Tylenol pills is under-dosing. I’ve heard many times from patients, “Tylenol just doesn’t work for me,” immediately followed by, “I only took one pill because I didn’t want to take too much.”

Also know this: The alternatives have risks too. Heavy use of ibuprofen (Motrin®), naprosyn (Aleve®), and others like them increase the risk of bleeding, especially from peptic ulcers.

How to feel safe when taking Tylenol pills
- Know the proper dosages. For children, ask your pediatrician to determine a dose based on your child’s current weight. Adults without liver disease may take up to 2 extra-strength pills (2 x 500 mg) every 6 hours or up to 2 regular-strength tablets (2 x 325 mg) every 4 hours. If you have liver disease, always talk with your doctor before taking any medication for the first time.
- Avoid combination pills. If, besides taking Tylenol, you are on prescription pain medications or are taking over-the-counter cold/sinus formulations, have your doctor or pharmacist determine whether you are adding too much acetaminophen on top of your regular dose.
- Lock up all meds. If you have small children, it’s essential to keep all drugs out of reach and in child-proof containers. No one wants a child to mistake some chewable or easy-swallow pills for candy and consume a hazardous dose. Also, see that depressed persons don’t have access to 8 or more pills at a time – that’s the total number of high-dose Tylenols allowed in a day. More than that consumed at one time in a suicide attempt can sometimes prove fatal.

Review By Paula Kue, MD

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