Acetaminophen and Tylenol Side Effects

Tylenol, a popular fever reducer and pain relief medicine, is also called acetaminophen or paracetamol in different parts of the world. Its main side effect is nausea, which affects about 34% of users. Long-term use can lead to liver damage. Recent studies hint at a possible link between exposure in the womb and the later development of autism or ADHD.

Acetaminophen Side Effects

Generally, people handle acetaminophen well and don’t face major Tylenol side effects if they follow the recommended dose. The most common issues are stomach-related, especially feeling nauseous.

Typical Tylenol side effects include: 

• Abdominal pain 
• Constipation 
• Diarrhea 
• Feeling dizzy 
• Headache 
• Indigestion 
• Pain where the IV was (if you received an injection) 
• Feeling itchy 
• Nausea 
• Sweating 
• Feeling tired 
• Throwing up

Tylenol is one of the most popular brands that includes the fever reducer and pain relief medicine, acetaminophen. It’s also known as paracetamol in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and India). Lots of medication, including cold and cough medicines, contain acetaminophen in them.

Severe Tylenol Side Effects

Acetaminophen is found in more than 100 OTC medicines, including cold and flu medications. If people take too many at once, they could be at risk for acetaminophen poisoning.

Rarely, acetaminophen can cause a severe skin reaction, including Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. If you develop a skin rash, stop using Tylenol immediately and seek medical help.

A study showed that taking four grams of acetaminophen daily could raise blood pressure by about 4% in those with high blood pressure, potentially increasing the risk of heart problems.

Can Liver Damage Be Caused by Tylenol? 

Overdosing on Tylenol or taking the recommended dose for a long period of time can damage your liver.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration made companies limit how much acetaminophen goes into each pill. No pill or liquid medicine dosage can contain more than 325 milligrams per dose. This is because of worries about liver failure when patients take too much acetaminophen (more than 4000 mg) in a day by using multiple products.

Mixing alcohol with acetaminophen can also raise the chance of acute liver failure. If you have liver disease, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the right Tylenol dosage for you. 

Acetaminophen Overdose: What Happens if You Take Too Much Tylenol? 

Acetaminophen toxicity is a top cause of liver transplants in the U.S. About half of all Tylenol overdoses happen by accident, often because people don’t realize how many of their medicines have acetaminophen in them.

Tylenol overdose starts with symptoms like stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. It usually follows four stages:

Phase 1: In the first 12 to 24 hours, you might feel sick, weak, overly tired, and sweaty. 

Phase 2: Between 24 and 48 hours, you might feel severe pain on the right side of your body, look yellowish (jaundice), and tests might show liver damage. Doctors usually give an antidote called acetylcysteine. 

Phase 3: Around three days in, the liver can fail. This can cause nausea, vomiting, confusion, coma, kidney failure, and even death.

Phase 4: The recovery stage. Around 70% of patients who reach this stage fully recover.

Early signs of liver damage can be hard to notice, but catching them early can lead to better treatment. Taking N-acetylcysteine within eight hours of a Tylenol overdose can help prevent liver damage.

When using Tylenol, it’s crucial to follow the dosing instructions and avoid taking multiple medications with acetaminophen at the same time. Always read the labels and instructions carefully. If you suspect you have taken too much Tylenol, call your doctor or the Poison Control Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. 

Can Tylenol Cause Autism? 

The exact causes of autism spectrum disorder are unclear. Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, is often used as a pain reliever during pregnancy, leading researchers to investigate its possible connection to autism.

Recent studies suggest that acetaminophen use while pregnant could affect the baby’s brain development. One study found that using acetaminophen during pregnancy could be linked to a 19% higher likelihood of autism spectrum disorder in kids.

Families with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder are filing lawsuits against retailers, Johnson and Johnson, and manufacturers of generic acetaminophen. These Tylenol lawsuits seek money for damages, and blame these groups for allegedly not warning consumers about a potential autism risk when using Tylenol during pregnancy.

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