Acetaminon, the primary active ingredient found in the brand name pain relief medication Tylenol, is among the most widely used over the counter pain medications.
However, overuse of the product can result in serious health consequences.
Acetaminophen metabolism results in exposure to the toxic metabolite
NAPQ1, and excessive long term use of the medication over the above recommended
dose of three hundred and twenty five milligrams (325 mg.) can result in sever
liver cell damage when liver metabolism becomes saturated.
The liver is responsible for breaking down
and metabolizing substances and chemicals from the blood and producing
important digestive enzymes such as bile.
Additionally, the liver plays a critical role in the production of blood
clotting mechanisms and red blood cells.
In January of 2011, a Drug Safety Communication was issued
by the FDA, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, requesting medication
manufacturers to limit the quantities of acetaminophen in their products to
three hundred and twenty five milligrams (325 mg.). Research and analysis has concluded that the
toxicity that over use of acetaminophen results in is the leading cause of
acute liver failure, or ALF, in the United States.
In June of 2009, the Federal Drug
Administration’s Joint Meeting of the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory
Committee reported and confirmed that acute liver failure is, indeed, directly
caused by acetaminophen toxicity.
While the leading cause of death from acute liver failure is
a result of the swelling of the brain, cerebral edema, there are several, less
significant symptoms that may be an early indicator of acetaminophen toxicity
and acute liver failure.
Some of those
symptoms can include the following:
nausea accompanied by vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea and
fatigue. More sever symptoms tend to
occur as acute liver failure progresses, some of which are increased nausea and
vomiting, blood in the urine, color changes in stool, bloating of the abdomen,
excessive thirst, dizziness, seizures, depression and even stroke.
One of the most prominent and noticeable
outward symptoms of acute liver failure is jaundice, which is characterized by
yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin.
Ultimately, the final stages of acute liver failure brought on by
acetaminophen toxicity can be the failure of multiple organs, coma, and
death.
Acute liver failure is accompanied by rapid deterioration of
liver function. This life threatening
medical condition requires prompt hospitalization and medical treatment.
When acute liver failure that is caused by
Tylenol, acetaminophen, toxicity is diagnosed during the condition’s early
stages, the symptoms and toxicity may be treatable. An oral medication called N-acetyl cysteine
is often orally administered to patients that are suspected of having overdosed
on acetaminophen.
Ingestion of the
antidote detoxifies the toxic metabolite when given to the patient that is
suspected of acetaminophen overdose within eight hours of exposure. However, even with immediate, aggressive
medical treatment, many do not survive the toxic effect acetaminophen
overdose. In some sever cases of acute
liver failure, a liver transplant may be the only treatment option.
For those that seek additional information regarding the
signs and symptoms of acute liver failure and Tylenol, acetaminophen, toxicity
may find the internet to be a valuable resource.
Federal Drug Administration sponsored
websites as well as internet web sites related to the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC), and the Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR) provide abundant
information on Tylenol, acetaminophen, toxicity and acute liver failure that
often results.
It is critical for those
that suspect they have ingested dangerous quantities of acetaminophen to seek
medical treatment immediately. Those
that have suffered medical related conditions and injuries resulting from acute
liver failure brought on by acetaminophen toxicity would be well advised to
seek the services of an attorney to discuss legal options and potential
financial compensation.
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