Tylenol, also known as paracetamol and acetaminophen, is an over-the-counter medication used for pain and fever reduction. Similar to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, like ibuprofen and aspirin, Tylenol should be used in moderation to alleviate symptoms, and patients should not exceed the manufacturers' recommended dosing due to the danger of potentially major side effects occurring from either an acute overdose or from long-term use.
Liver Damage
According to the U.S. Federal Drug Administration, or FDA, failure to follow the recommended dosage of Tylenol or other acetaminophen-containing products may result in severe liver damage, liver failure and even death. The FDA recommends that people using Tylenol should also be aware of the active ingredients of all other over-the-counter or prescription drugs they are using because they might contain acetaminophen. The FDA also suggests that acetaminophen-containing products should not be used for longer than the recommended time periods, and that people should seek the advice of a physician should their condition not improve.
Kidney Damage
Long-term use of acetaminophen products like Tylenol may have a negative impact on the kidneys. In a population-based study published in the December 20, 2001 issue of "The New England Journal of Medicine," researchers found that 25 percent of patients who had chronic kidney failure used acetaminophen on a regular basis. Additionally, they determined that regular use of acetaminophen resulted in a 2.5-fold increased risk of kidney failure.
Asthma
Asthma is an autoimmune disorder of the respiratory tract that results in an inflammatory response to a particular allergen. There is increasing evidence that the risk of developing asthma is increased with exposure to acetaminophen. According to a study published in the November 3, 2009 issue of "Clinical and Experimental Allergy," there is an acetaminophen dose-dependent risk in developing asthma over a lifetime. Essentially, this means that with more exposure to acetaminophen such as Tylenol, whether as a child or as an adult, there is an enhanced risk of developing asthma.
Hematologic Malignancies
Researchers examined the links between the use of acetominophen and the risk of developing hematologic malignancies, or blood cancers, like leukemia and multiple myeloma. An article published in the August 2008 issue of "Leukemia and Lymphoma" suggests that chronic use of acetaminophen results in an increased risk of developing acute leukemia or multiple myeloma. This result was not reflected in the long-term use of aspirin.
References
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Acetaminophen and Liver Injury: Q & A for Consumers
- "The New England Journal of Medicine": Acetaminophen, Aspirin, and Chronic Renal Failure
- "Clinical and Experimental Allergy": The role of paracetamol in the pathogensis of asthma
- "Leukemia & Lymphoma": The role of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the risk of development and treatment of hematologic malignancies
