Acetaminophen – Is the Government trying to kill us?

FDA Finally Admits Deadly Effects of Acetaminophen

This is the headline in the July 2010 Issue of Life Extension, the magazine for the Life Extension Foundation. Did you see that news on CNN, Fox or your local newspaper?  I strongly doubt it. Despite all the evidence of the damage caused by acetamenophen, the only action from the FDA is to reduce the recommended doses. There is no warning on the labels for either the name brand acetamenophen products like Tylenol or the generic versions. The public continues to believe that the FDA protects them and that approved drugs are safe and effective while all the time it  gives no respect to natural alternatives that do not have safety issues.

What’s the fuss?

So what damage does acetamenophen cause? The principal damage is to the liver where it causes depletion of glutathione which is the liver’s antioxidant. When glutathione is reduced, it allows free radicals to destroy liver cells. Researchers have suggested that this bad outcome could be eliminated if the acetamenophen were combined with N-acetyl cycsteine. Combining these two over the counter drugs is not allowed by the FDA without expensive testing but you can buy each separately if, for some reason, you feel you must use acetaminophen. When you use acetamenophen alone you stress and potentially damage your liver and possibly cause damage to the kidneys and other organs.

Are there studies?

A study in 2006 said that each year there are 100,000 calls to poison control centers because of the use of acetamenophen. There are 56,000 emergency room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations and 450 deaths, all from the use of acetaminophen.

In addition, there are suggestions that the use of acetamenophen is the reason for the rise in kidney cancer rates of 126% since 1950 and the increase of age related diseases. It is well known that acetamenophen does cause cataracts in mice.

Don’t take it!

Acetaminophen is not the benign and helpful drug that the commercials describe. It has bad side effects especially for the elderly. For young people the impact of the liver damage over time will probably not show up until mid or late life and the responsibility will not be clear, especially since the FDA is carrying the water for the drug manufacturers by not disclosing the ugly facts about acetamenophen use. I don’t use pain killers much and can’t remember the last time I used acetamenophen. I don’t plan to use it in the future and to make sure that my family understands the risks as well.

So where can I find the facts and the documentation?

If you want to check the research and documentation of the facts here, you can find them in the July, 2010 issue of Life Extension. Online here is an older article about the dangers of acetamenophen.