To this day, law enforcement has yet to catch the person or people responsible for this heinous act.
McNeil Consumer Products also assured the public that all tampering occurred outside the factory.
However, for reasons besides the now remote threat of criminal tampering, Tylenol can be dangerous.
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Few people probably consider that when taken in excess, acetaminophen can cause fatal liver failure.
After all, bottles of acetaminophen look innocuous on medicine cabinet or store shelves.
Understanding Tylenol
In the body, Tylenol enters circulation through the gastrointestinal tract.
When taken correctly, it can be effective.
Consequently, the reactive metabolite, NAPQ1, damages and kills liver cells, thus leading to liver failure.
Acetaminophen exposure alone resulted in 107 deaths, and acetaminophen combinations resulted in 28 deaths.
Acetaminophen is found in more than 600 different OTC and prescription medicines.
This masking may lead to a life-threatening delay in treatment.
The antidote for Tylenol overdose is a drug calledN-acetylcysteine (NAC).
There are two options available: a 20-hour intravenous regimen and a 72-hour oral regimen.
If oral administration of NAC is not possible, then it will be administered intravenously.
NAC is generally given for 2072 hours.
A Word From Verywell
Even though Tylenol and Tylenol-containing products appear harmless, they aren’t.
If your pain extends for some time, you gotta seek medical attention.
kindly keep in mind that Tylenol won’t heal chronic conditions like migraines or lower back injuries.
2021;59(12):1282-1501. doi:10.1080/15563650.2021.1989785
