Introduction

Why is Hepatotoxicity important? Because more than 900 drugs can cause it! Hepatotoxicity simply means damage to the liver. There are many commonly known drugs out there that, when misused, can lead to hepatotoxicity.This is a very serious issue that can affect anyone. According to the FDA, drug-induced liver injury is now the leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States!
The liver is a vital organ that has many functions including the production of plasma proteins, the storage of energy reserves, the excretion of bile, and the detoxification of poisons. As you can see, the liver is extremely important! Without it, our body cannot function properly.
There are many signs and symptoms of hepatotoxicity including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and jaundice. The signs and symptoms vary from person to person and are explained in more detail throughout our blog.
This issue is very important for all kinds of people because it can happen to anyone and, if left untreated, can become fatal.
Consumers must be aware of the dangers of drug-induced liver damage in order to protect themselves.
This is also an important topic for medical personnel. Knowing about hepatotoxicity will help to treat patients more effectively. Patients suffering from hepatotoxicity will be recognized faster and treated better.
Knowing about drug-induced liver damage will reduce the risk for very serious health problems.
If you are interested in learning more about hepatotoxicity, then you are in the right spot!

http://www.liverfoundation.org/education/info/alcohol
http://www.aasld.org/conferences/meetings/Pages/2009HepatotoxicitySpecialInterestGroupMeeting.aspx
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/169814-overview

Monday, March 9, 2009

THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF ACUTE LIVER FAILURE: TYLENOL



Tylenol (acetaminophen) may seem harmless to many people, but when taken in excess it can lead to damaging results, maybe even death. The exact mechanism of action of Tylenol is unknown. However, we do know that it elevates the pain threshold and acts as a pain and fever reducer. Tylenol related hepatotoxicity can be very common because it is an ingredient found in many prescribed and over-the-counter drugs. It is used to treat a variety of issues such as:
Muscle aches
Headaches
Back pain
Colds
Fever
There is no set “level” of Tylenol that will cause toxicity because the drug affects everyone differently. So, to avoid hepatotoxicity: TYLENOL MUST BE TAKEN AS DIRECTED. Early signs of this condition would include nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and abdominal pain, and usually appear within 24 hours of toxicity. If you know that you have taken more than the recommended dose and you experience any of these symptoms, contact your physician immediately! Chronic symptoms will take a little longer to appear and may include GI bleeding and mental changes. If left untreated, hepatotoxicity may result in death. Alcohol taken in addition to Tylenol will increase the risk of hepatotoxicity. Some medications that contain acetaminophen:
Anacin-3
Percocet
Liquiprin
Panadol
Tempra

Tylenol is a useful and effective drug that must be taken seriously. Some important facts include:

The FDA recommends that children under 4 years old should not be given Tylenol.
Home treatment will not cure Tylenol related hepatotoxicity. Immediate hospital treatment is a MUST.
If medical treatment is received within 8 hours of toxicity, recovery will most likely occur.
Tylenol should not be used for more than 10 days.
The dose for a child is based on age and weight.
Tylenol can be used during pregnancy when taken as directed by a physician.
About 500 deaths per year are due to overdoses of acetaminophen.
Tylenol-induced liver toxicity is the most common form of acute liver failure observed in the United States today.
The dosage of Tylenol for children will be different than for that of adults. You must be careful when giving children Tylenol.


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6 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 25, 2009 at 1:30 PM

    I was shocked to read how dangerous Tylenol can be. I was especially interested in the part that talked about how Tylenol misuse is the most common cause of acute liver failure in the U.S. It is scary to think that such a commonly used medication can cause such serious side effects.

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  2. KristieMarch 30, 2009 at 7:46 AM

    Wow!! I had no idea that Tylenol could be so damaging to your body. I will think twice about taking two or three pills at a time now. You wouldn't think that something like Tylenol could potentially kill you.

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  3. KristenMarch 31, 2009 at 8:51 AM

    This is really great information. I give my son (age 2) Tylenol from time to time, but now I will be extra careful about the dose and will talk to my doctor about using a different medication. I did not know it could be so harmful.

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  4. KelliMarch 31, 2009 at 3:52 PM

    You know Nyquil also has tylenol in it too. I feel like most medications have so many drawbacks. It interesting to learn all this. I never knew I could be potentially killing my liver.

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  5. amberMarch 31, 2009 at 9:20 PM

    I cannot believe how scary Tylenol can be!From now on I will pay attention to how much my family takes, especially my children.
    My father takes too much tylenol and he doesnt think anything of it. I will show him this information today!! this will have potentially saved us from a crisis!!

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  6. malegra 100 mgFebruary 15, 2021 at 1:44 AM

    Immune system hepatitis is a sickness wherein the body's resistant framework assaults the liver and makes it excited. The illness is ceaseless, which means it keeps going numerous years. If untreated, it can prompt cirrhosis and liver disappointment. There are two types of sickness.

    ReplyDelete

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