I hope this helps
It's no secret that liver damage, acetaminophen, and alcohol are dangerously linked. Researchers determined some time ago that long-time drinkers who use Tylenol or other drugs that contain acetaminophen are at risk of developing liver toxicity. Those drinkers who take the Tylenol in moderate to large doses are most likely to develop side effects, overdose, and fall ill, but even social drinkers may be at risk of liver toxicity. Here's why.

Simply put, when combined with alcohol, acetaminophen can dangerously lower the liver's levels of glutathione. When the amount of glutathione in the body decreases, the liver - and other organs - can ultimately shut down. Any amount of alcohol can trigger a breakdown, especially over a prolonged period of time.

One problem is that there are no guidelines for drinkers beyond the limited FDA warning labels on bottles of drugs that contain acetaminophen - therefore, people who drink alcohol really don't know what behaviors are safe and which might result in dangerous side effects. What's more, these individuals cannot decrease their risk of liver toxicity by simply ceasing their alcohol consumption while taking acetaminophen. The risk of an overdose is still quite high.

If you drink alcohol, but less than four glasses of wine or three mixed drinks a day, use acetaminophen in the lowest possible dose to relieve your symptoms -- in no event more than four extra-strength or six regular-strength tablets daily -- and stop taking the drug as soon as your symptoms subside.

If you are using acetaminophen to treat cold or flu symptoms and regularly use alcohol, stop the alcohol until you are over the cold or flu, as it can aggravate cold and flu symptoms. Remember that many liquid cold remedies contain alcohol and count as shots of whiskey.

If you use acetaminophen regularly to control pain and use alcohol, keep your dose of acetaminophen as low as possible and moderate your alcohol intake. Moderation is defined as no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men. One drink equals:12 ounces of regular beer; 5 ounces of wine; 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.

The most common complaints reported by those experiencing the acetaminophen-alcohol interaction were nausea, vomiting, abdominal distress or pain. These are very non-specific complaints and are symptoms common to many mild disorders. The only sure way to detect liver toxicity is with a blood test ordered by your doctor.

Heavy drinkers should consult a physician before taking any pain reliever on a regular basis. Combining heavy drinking with aspirin or ibuprofen (such as Advil) may promote gastrointestinal bleeding. Acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) and heavy drinking may promote liver disease.

Re: I have a question


Yes, take her to the hospital if she took all of this in a couple of hours. Hopefully, after they pump her stomach they will refer her for some counseling.

This is some advice from a nurse who used to work in the Poison Center that managed all of the overdoses of Tylenol reported to McNeil-Lehrer, the makers of Tylenol.

Most toxicologists will not be concerned about potential liver damage in an adult unless you take more than 4 grams of Tylenol in a 24 hour period. That's 8 Extra Strength Tylenol. There is potential for liver damage if you exceed these doses by taking a large number of Tylenol, or if you continually exceed 4 grams of Tylenol in a 24 hour period on a regular basis, but I would expect that if you exceed this amount of Tylenol by one or two pills on a one-time basis, and you don't already have liver damage, you will be fine. But the only way to know is to go to the hospital, have a Tylenol level drawn, and some Liver Function Tests.

Tylenol Overdose....
Yes, Ginger Snap is right about the safe dosage range. Just a quick little true story: We had an 18 year old in our ICU who had a simple cold. He was drinking bottles of Nyquil, plus taking several other OTC products with acetaminophen in them. Well, he died. We did everything we could, but he died of tylenol overdose. The sad thing is, he didn't even know it, because he did not know that you can overdose on tylenol, or that it is in most OTC cold products. We also had a young serviceman who took an entire bottle because his wife was running around. Well he didn't die but he will never be the same. He was transferred to a nursing home. Ginger, it would be great if you would post some information for us from time to time regarding poison control issues. I would love to read them. I am particularly interested in all the pesticides people use in their homes. Do you know of the cancer concern with these home pesticides?