Tylenol is a common household medication used for the treatment of pain and low fever. Tylenol has been proven safe and effective, but overdosing can be life threatening. Tylenol's active ingredient is acetaminophen, which can cause liver damage if consumed in excessive amounts. Acetaminophen can be found in other common household medication such as Sudafed, Dayquil, NyQuil, Alka-Seltzer Plus and Benadryl.
Toxicity
An overdose of Tylenol typically causes liver damage because the active ingredient acetaminophen is metabolized by the liver. An excessive amount of acetaminophen can overwhelm the liver and disrupt its normal function. Liver damage can lead to liver failure, making a person need a liver transplant to survive. Individuals that already have liver damage due to infection, alcohol abuse or other illness are at greater risk for liver damage by acetaminophen. Anyone who consumes more than three alcoholic beverages a day should not take Tylenol or any other medication that contains acetaminophen, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Symptoms
Individuals who overdose on Tylenol typically do not experience any adverse signs or symptoms until 24 hours after consumption. After the 24-hour period a person may experience nausea, vomiting, poor appetite or abdominal pain.
Toxicity Outcome
The outcome of overdose depends on the amount of Tylenol consumed and the timing of treatment. It is imperative to call for help immediately if you suspect someone in your household has overdosed. If the person is unconscious, not breathing or unresponsive, call 911 immediately. If you or the person in your household is awake and breathing without symptoms call your local poison control center.
Medical Treatment
In an unconscious, unresponsive overdosed patient, a physician may attempt to empty the stomach. A large tube is placed into the patient's mouth. The tube then extends into the stomach and is used to induce vomiting. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) may be given instead, which is an antidote for acetaminophen. NAC is typically given orally and is most effective within 8 hours of overdose.
Tests
In patients who are awake and conscious a physician may first try to determine the time and the amount of Tylenol taken. The patient should bring all medication consumed in its respective bottles, as this helps the doctor decipher the maximum amount of medication that could have been taken. Next, a physician will examine the patient for signs and symptoms of toxicity, such as jaundice (yellowing) of the skin, abdominal pain and vomiting. Lastly a physician may order a blood test to measures the amount of acetaminophen in the blood. Additional lab tests may order as needed.
