Tylenol, or acetaminophen, is a common over-the-counter pain medication used to treat many conditions such as headaches, muscle aches, arthritis, back ache, toothache, colds and fever, states Drugs.com. Although effective in treating multiple conditions, an overdose of Tylenol can significantly damage the liver. Therefore, an adult patient should not take more than 4 grams, or 4,000 milligrams, of acetaminophen per day. A patient taking high doses of Tylenol should understand these risks and be aware of signs of liver damage associated with the medication.
Jaundice
Jaundice is a condition in which a patient's skin, eyes and nail beds are noticeably yellow in color. The liver damage associated with Tylenol use can disrupt the metabolism of red blood cells. This decrease in red blood cell metabolism results in excess breakdown products of red blood cells in the bloodstream, which causes eyes and skin to be yellow. A patient experiencing jaundice should immediately stop taking Tylenol and seek emergency medical treatment.
Stomach Pain
A sign of liver damage from Tylenol includes stomach pain, states Drugs.com. Liver damage can affect nearby sensory nerves that sense pain in the liver and surrounding structures, causing stomach pain. Furthermore, damage from Tylenol can cause inflammation of the liver, which can cause stretching of the liver capsule, resulting in pain. A patient experiencing stomach pain in the right upper quadrant should be concerned about liver damage, especially if he is taking high doses of Tylenol. Emergency medical treatment is necessary if patients experience these symptoms.
Clay-Colored Stools
A serious sign of liver damage associated with Tylenol is clay-colored stools. Clay-colored stools occur because the liver cannot effectively excrete bile, a chemical substance that makes stool a brownish color. Bile results from the proper breakdown of red blood cells. Because red blood cells are not properly broken down, the liver can no longer excrete sufficient amounts of bile. This results in clay-colored stools. Clay-colored stools are a severe sign of liver damage and the patient should not hesitate to seek immediate medical treatment.
