Acetaminophen Can Prove Deadly For Some

This common drug is widespread because of its safety and efficacy. Acetaminophen can treat mild pain, aches and fevers. In many products, acetaminophen is combined with other drugs for treating more serious pain, cold and flu. Incidents of liver damage have been reported in patients taking both products containing only acetaminophen and combination medicines with multiple active ingredients.

Under the wrong conditions, acetaminophen can cause liver damage – and even liver failure and death. Patients have the highest risk of these complications if they take too much Tylenol and experience an acetaminophen overdose. This reaction, however, depends on an individual’s own liver physiology, so the exact number of pills or dosage of acetaminophen needed to cause problems varies wildly from person to person.

Individuals with preexisting liver disease and those that drink more than three drinks per day may be more vulnerable to acetaminophen liver damage than others, and should consult a physician before taking acetaminophen. Acetaminophen will be included on OTC drugs’ labeling by name or by the acronym APAP. 

Patients who take too much acetaminophen typically do not show symptoms right away. The symptoms of an acetaminophen overdose depend on actions of the liver, so even severe or lethal reactions may take several days to manifest. This means the drug is usually already in the patient’s blood and liver by the time the reaction takes place, leaving physicians with few options beyond supportive therapy. 

Lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturer of Tylenol. These lawsuits allege that the manufacturer knew – or reasonably should have known based on postmarket surveillance, peer-reviewed articles, and their own clinical testing – that their Tylenol products could potentially cause serious liver damage. The lawsuits further allege that the manufacturer not only failed to act on this information in a timely manner, but may have actively downplayed the risks of acetaminophen overdose, preventing patients and health care professions alike from having all of the information they needed to make informed medical decisions. 

If you or someone you care about took Tylenol and suffered from liver damage or failure, you may have a case. Though you almost certainly have a lot to deal with in the wake of a serious medical crisis like liver failure, you need to remember that you have rights, and there are steps that you can take to regain control over your situation. 

You can start by visiting the Tylenol Liver Damage, Stevens Johnson Syndrome Lawsuit Investigation. Here, you can enter information about your situation. Your information will be reviewed by a legal expert with a background in this type of litigation. The initial consultation is totally free of charge. From here, you can receive specific guidance on the best steps to take in your exact legal situation.