New Study: Acetaminophen Safety During Flu Season
During the flu season we all reach for medications to help alleviate our symptoms, with so many over the counter choices containing the active ingredient acetaminophen, its no wonder we might be taking more than the recommended daily dose.
This is especially dangerous for people who go undiagnosed with liver disease. In the US nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is projected to surpass viral hepatitis as the leading cause of liver transplantation, but most people don't even know they have it. Sound familiar? The same can be said for nearly half the people with hepatitis C, because new infections go undiagnosed as well.
Confirming; a need for consumer education about the proper use of acetaminophen medications.
A link to the research article is provided below, however, I highly suggest you read the following patient-friendly overview, written by Dennis Thompson; Fighting a Cold or Flu? Beware of Overdosing on Tylenol. Thompson breaks down the study, along with interviewing experts on the importance of using acetaminophen; in both healthy people, and those with liver disease, cirrhosis, or on a transplant list.
Reuters Health
Acetaminophen overuse spikes during cold and flu season
Last Updated: 2018-03-29
By Lisa Rapaport
(Reuters Health) - A growing number of people are taking high doses of acetaminophen, and many take so much during cold and flu season that they run the risk of liver and kidney damage, two studies suggest.
Last Updated: 2018-03-29
By Lisa Rapaport
(Reuters Health) - A growing number of people are taking high doses of acetaminophen, and many take so much during cold and flu season that they run the risk of liver and kidney damage, two studies suggest.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Prevalence of Exceeding Maximum Daily Dose of Acetaminophen, and Seasonal Variations in Cold-Flu Season
Published March 8, 2018 in British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
Download PDF
Published March 8, 2018 in British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
Download PDF
What is known about this subject
• Acetaminophen is an active ingredient in many prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications.
• When taken in high doses, acetaminophen can cause liver injury.
• Users sometimes exceed the maximum recommended dose of 4 grams per day.
What this study adds
What this study adds
• Over the course of 7 days, 6.3% of acetaminophen users exceed 4 grams on at least one day.
• Such over-dose occurred more often in cold-flu season (6.5%) than in off-season (5.3%), due to increased use of OTC combinations treating upper-respiratory cold/flu symptoms.
Conclusion
We found that 6.3% of acetaminophen users exceeded the maximum recommended daily dose of acetaminophen at least once during a week in which they used acetaminophen, and1.4% exceeded this limit on the majority of days; the limit was exceeded on 3.7% of acetaminophen usage days. This was somewhat more frequent during cold/flu season. The seasonal increase was mainly attributable to increases in the use of OTC acetaminophen medications containing a combination of ingredients designed to treat upper respiratory symptoms, in addition to treating pain and fever. These findings suggest the need for consumer education about the proper use of acetaminophen medications, including limiting the dose to that specified in the medication directions, with some special emphasis during cold/flu season on limiting intake of medications treating upper-respiratory symptoms.
Conclusion
We found that 6.3% of acetaminophen users exceeded the maximum recommended daily dose of acetaminophen at least once during a week in which they used acetaminophen, and1.4% exceeded this limit on the majority of days; the limit was exceeded on 3.7% of acetaminophen usage days. This was somewhat more frequent during cold/flu season. The seasonal increase was mainly attributable to increases in the use of OTC acetaminophen medications containing a combination of ingredients designed to treat upper respiratory symptoms, in addition to treating pain and fever. These findings suggest the need for consumer education about the proper use of acetaminophen medications, including limiting the dose to that specified in the medication directions, with some special emphasis during cold/flu season on limiting intake of medications treating upper-respiratory symptoms.
Complete Research Article - http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bcp.13551/epdf
Tylenol & Viral Hepatitis
As for people with HCV, the following document defines acetaminophen use for people; with or without cirrhosis.
Tylenol & Viral Hepatitis
As for people with HCV, the following document defines acetaminophen use for people; with or without cirrhosis.
Experts suggest, even for healthy people - a safe practice is to take only what you need - and to not exceed 3,000 mg a day if at all possible.
Stay healthy
Tina
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