By: Korey DiRoma, Naturopathic Doctor
Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol and many cold and flu medications, has come under fire recently by the FDA. It has been known for many years that acetaminophen can damage the liver at high levels, but what most people are not aware of is that these levels are just 4,000mg per day. With extra strength Tylenol doses being 500mg each, this is only eight Tylenol per day. Acetaminophen is also in cold and flu meds such as NyQuil and Theraflu, so if combined with Tylenol, it is easy to lose track of the dosing. Also, if combined with alcohol or for habitual drinkers, say two glasses of red wine per night, the toxicity to the liver increases.
Acetaminophen overdose leading to acute liver failure is becoming more frequent. According to an FDA memo, 110,000 visits to the emergency room were related to acetaminophen, as well as several hundred cases of acute liver failure. Acetaminophen is also the number one reason people need liver transplants for acute liver failure, says Ronald Busuttil, chairman of surgery and chief of liver transplantation at UCLA Medical Center.
The FDA is proposing stricter and clearer labeling, and possibly coming with a black-box warning. They are also proposing to lower the maximum daily dosage of acetaminophen, and looking to remove acetaminophen from some prescription drugs such as Vicodin.
So what are our options for pain relievers?
Many people choose acetaminophen- containing products because they do not have the same gastrointestinal side effects as ibuprofen or naproxen. But acetaminophen is also not directly anti-inflammatory, but acts on our brain to reduce the sensation of pain. As a Naturopathic Doctor, I look to use a more holistic approach to pain management. There are many natural herbs, enzymes, and nutrients that are naturally anti-inflammatory, and best of all, with no side effects! Together with dietary modifications and the use of acupuncture, you can potentially be pain free without the use of toxic pain medications.
