Overdoses of popular pain-killer can damage liver, study affirms
Associated Press, 10/15/97 19:29 

NEW YORK (AP) - A new study affirms that people who take too much of the
popular painkiller acetaminophen can seriously damage their livers,
particularly if they are alcoholics. 

``People don't have a healthy respect for it,'' said researcher Dr.
William M. Lee. ``They don't realize that there's any downside to it.'' 

Warnings about dosage limits already appear on products with
acetaminophen, such as Tylenol. People should pay attention to those
labels and not exceed dose limits ``when you're seeking pain relief and
get frustrated,'' Lee said. 

Alcoholics appear to be particularly vulnerable to damage, said Lee, who
reports his findings in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine with
colleagues at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at
Dallas. 

They studied 71 patients admitted to the hospital over three years who
either had liver damage from acetaminophen or who'd taken enough of the
drug to risk damage. 

The 50 patients who'd deliberately overdosed for a suicide attempt showed
a lower death rate, 2 percent, than people who'd taken too much
accidentally, 19 percent. They also had less liver damage. That happened
even though those who attempted suicide took more acetaminophen. 

One reason could be chronic alcohol abuse, which was more common in the
accidental-overdose group, the researchers said. Alcoholics are at extra
risk because alcohol makes acetaminophen more toxic while depleting
another substance that protects against liver damage, Lee said. 

Labels on acetaminophen painkillers recommend consulting a doctor if a
person has had more than three alcoholic drinks, he said. 

Another reason could be that people who overdose accidentally take longer
to seek medical help, Lee said. ``They don't know they've done anything
wrong'' until they have nausea, vomiting and jaundice, he said. 

People may take more acetaminophen than they realize because it is found
in liquids taken to promote sleep, Lee said. 


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