“Acetaminophen (pronounced a-seet’-a-min’-oh-fen) (also known as: APAP, AC, Acetaminoph, Acetaminop, Acetamin, or Acetam) is a medicine that lowers fevers and relieves mild to moderate pain. It’s found in over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications. It’s the active ingredient in Tylenol, one of the most common brand-name OTC products. There are over 600 medicines that contain acetaminophen, though, including drugs for infants, children, and adults.
1. Acetaminophen toxicity is the second most common cause of liver transplantation worldwide and the most common in the US.
2. It causes 56,000 emergency department visits, 2,600 hospitalizations, and 500 deaths per year in the US (some sources cite 1000 deaths).
3. Taking just 4 grams (8x500mg capsules) in 24 hours may cause fatal liver necrosis.
4. When combined with alcohol, liver damage may occur after only 2 grams (4 pills).
5. For survival, treatment must begin within about 8 hours of overdose.
6. 39% of users experienced liver enzyme (ALT) elevation to more than 3 times normal when taking 4 grams daily.
7. After 14 days of 4 grams daily, 25% of users had ALTs 8 times the upper limit of normal.
8. A long-term study found a 63% increase in death rate for regular APAP users.
9. APAP is associated with increased cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and renal adverse effects.
10. It’s potentially neurotoxic, with 50.6% of elderly dementia patients using APAP compared to 21.4% who didn’t.
11. Mothers who used APAP for 28+ days during pregnancy had offspring with statistically lower cognitive function.
12. Children given APAP by age 7 showed a 3-fold increase in asthma (another source cited 323% increase).
13. Long-term use is linked to a 20% or greater increase in diabetes risk.
14. APAP can be kidney toxic for glutathione-depleted patients or those taking certain other drugs.
15. It causes mitochondrial dysfunction, impairing mitochondrial function before damaging cell membranes.
16. By 2023, Tylenol had been added to over 100 prescription medicines.
17. As of 2011, there were 325 over-the-counter preparations containing APAP.
18. APAP use during pregnancy is associated with cognitive and physical developmental decline in offspring.
19. It’s potentially linked to the increasing prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease.
20. Even at therapeutic doses, APAP can cause kidney toxicity in certain patient populations.”
With thanks to Hippocrates Health, Mudgeeraba, Goald Coast, NSW
Graeme Dinnen
ResourcesForLife.net
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