Tylenol is the brand name for the pain and fever medication acetaminophen. Although safe when taken in the recommended dosages, it is harmful when taken in excessive amounts. An overdose of Tylenol primarily affects the digestive tract, especially the liver. In addition to the liver, large amounts of Tylenol cause chemical irritation in the stomach and small intestine. Due to the possibility of permanent liver damage, an overdose of Tylenol should be treated as a medical emergency.
Gastritis and Vomiting
Ingesting excessive amounts of Tylenol causes chemical irritation in the lining of the stomach (gastritis) and first part of the small intestine. Initially, gastritis caused by Tylenol overdose is not a serious medical condition, although vomiting may occur due to the local gastro-intestinal irritation. If the vomit contains pills or capsules, medical attention should be sought immediately. As noted in a 2007 article in the journal "Nursing," if these early signs are recognized, the individual can be treated to reduce or prevent other serious consequences of the overdose.
Abdominal Pain and Vomiting
If treatment is not administered early, the stomach upset becomes constant and severe. As noted by the Merck Manual, pain also develops in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, representing the acute chemical injury to the liver. Vomiting at this stage is caused by the brain's response to toxins in the blood from the acute destruction of the liver cells. Treatment at this stage may avert the most serious consequence of Tylenol overdose: liver damage.
Liver Damage, Jaundice and Liver Failure
The liver is the main organ for metabolism of medications and other ingested substances, including acetaminophen. If an individual consumes an overdose of Tylenol and does not get medical attention, toxic metabolites of acetaminophen begin to accumulate in the liver. These toxic by-products poison the liver and cause severe liver damage. Damage to the liver cells causes them to leak a substance called bilirubin into the blood. Bilirubin has a yellowish color which is seen in the skin and in the sclera, or white parts of the eyes. This condition is known as jaundice. According to a 2006 article in the journal "Archives of Disease in Childhood," the severity of the jaundice is proportional to the amount of damage suffered by the liver. In case of large overdose, the damage to the liver can be irreversible. Since the liver is a vital organ, a liver transplant will be necessary if the individual is to survive.
References
- "Nursing"; Managing Acute Acetaminophen Toxicity; Smith DH; 2007; 37:58
- Merck: Acetaminophen Poisoning
- "Archives of Disease in Childhood"; Paracetamol Induced Hepatotoxicity; Mahadevan SK; 2006; 91:598
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