Q. I have taken just about every arthritis medicine known to man including Advil, Voltaren, Aleve, Celebrex and Vioxx. They either make me constipated or give me a stomach ache.
A friend from Australia sent me something called paracetamol. He said I could take as much as I want with no risk to my stomach. It works wonders on my sore knees. If I take 650 mg before bed I sleep well and awake refreshed.
I can’t find any mention to paracetamoI in my drug reference books. What is this medicine and will it do me any harm?
A. Elsewhere in the world, the ingredient in Tylenol and many other pain relievers is called paracetamol. In the U.S. it’s known as acetaminophen.
Concern for Liver and Kidneys
While it is safe for the stomach, high doses of acetaminophen for long periods of time might harm the liver or kidneys. Each year nearly 800 people in the U.S. develop liver failure as a consequence of acetaminophen overdose, making it the leading cause of acute liver failure in this country.
Don’t Overdose Inadvertently
A single daily dose of 650 mg at bedtime is unlikely to harm you. But because this compound is found in many cold, cough, flu and sinus medicines as well as other pain relievers, overdosing on acetaminophen is easier than some people may think. The maximum safe dose is 4 grams (4000 mg), which is eight extra-strength Tylenol tablets. It makes sense to read labels carefully and not double up on acetaminophen-containing products.
It is also prudent to avoid acetaminophen (paracetamol by another name) when you drink alcohol. The interaction is more hazardous for the liver.
You can read much more about the dangers of this common pain reliever in our post on ProPublica’s research.
