Disturbing Facts About Opiate Addiction

Facts About Opiates

Opiate Addiction: Tylenol Overdose and Liver Damage

Tylenol, Johnson & Johnson's well known painkiller, is one of the most common causes of opiate abuse. It is also known as the main cause of acute liver failure.  

Tylenol

Tylenol that contains acetaminophen as its main ingredient is linked to more than 100,000 incidents of poisoning in the U.S. It is also the cause of approximately 60,000 emergency visits and thousands of deaths in the country.

The medication falls under the drug category of centrally acting analgesics and antipyretic agents. As an analgesic, it relieves fever and as antipyretic, it cures pain. It works by blocking the pain in the area of the brain.

The danger of using Tylenol stems is associated with accidental overdose. Since it is available over-the-counter, people think that it is safe to take it over the prescribed amount. However, some people are more susceptible to having acute liver failure when taking a little higher dose of Tylenol.

Opiate Addiction & Overdose Facts:

Anyone who takes more than the recommended dose of a painkiller may be overdosing. Anyone who is under medication for pain and has developed a tolerance for it may take a higher dose to relieve pain.

Anyone may Overdose on the following circumstances:

• Anyone taking prescription painkillers that contain acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Aspirin may overdose.
• Anyone taking narcotic painkillers, including Oxycodone (Oxycontin) and Hydrocodone (Vicodin), that has Aspirin or Tylenol as an ingredient.
• Liver damage may become chronic in cases of an overdose, and can even result from taking regular doses while drinking alcohol.
• Intentional opiate addiction of painkillers containing Tylenol.

Tylenol Risks of Liver Damage:

In 2011, the FDA required drug manufacturers to reduce the amount of acetaminophen to 325 milligrams per capsule or tablet. It also required the makers of painkillers Percocet and Vicodin to remove it from these drugs.

Tylenol Overdose:

Anyone taking Tylenol for pain is in danger of accidental overdose. This is because they are not aware of how much Tylenol may cause an overdose. On the other hand, intentional overdose may result if someone has an opiate addiction.

Taking 8 pills a day of extra-strength Tylenol of 500 milligrams each is in danger of overdose. The maximum recommended amount of the medication is 4,000 milligrams. Anyone who is not careful of taking it is at risk of not only developing an addiction, but acute liver damage.

There are cases that people struggling with opiate addiction take Tylenol with alcohol. Mixing Tylenol with alcohol is the most dangerous mixture of an OTC drug with alcohol as it can lead to liver transplant and even death before the surgery.

People taking Tylenol in large doses consumed the drug with alcohol to hasten its effect. It was found that they are overdosing to commit suicide.