Warning as common painkiller is 'most dangerous over the counter medicine'

A COMMON painkiller has been dubbed the "most dangerous over the counter drug".

Acetaminophen – better known as paracetamol or Tylenol – has been linked with cases of liver failure in the US.

John Brems, a professor of surgery at Loyola University in Chicago, regularly treats patients with acute liver poisoning.

He told ABC News: "Acetaminophen is a dangerous drug.

"It is probably the most dangerous OTC drug in this country.

"Many of these patients took acetaminophen in addition to alcohol.

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"I end up transplanting three to four patients per year, and two to three die before we can transplant them."

Toxic hepatitis is when your liver is inflamed due to reacting to drugs, alcohol or chemicals.

It often goes away when the toxin is removed, but it can permanently damage the liver or cause liver failure.

Signs of a possible acetaminophen overdose include a loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, upper abdominal pain or a coma.

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Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and Clinical Director of Patient.info, told the Sun Online: "Paracetamol is one of the most commonly taken medicines in the UK. Most of us wouldn’t think twice about taking a couple of tablets of paracetamol if we had a headache or muscle ache.

"For most people, who stick to the recommended intake (2 tablets up to every four hours, with not more than 8 tablets in 24 hours), paracetamol doesn’t pose a problem.

"But if you take more than the recommended dose – particularly over a long period – you could be putting yourself at risk.

"I’ve seen patients who didn’t think it was a problem to take ‘only’ twice the recommended dose.

"I’ve had others who didn’t think that taking combination cold remedies, which contained paracetamol, counted towards their daily ’allowance’ of paracetamol.

"But all of them were putting themselves at risk of severe liver damage."

A study into paracetamol causing liver damage from 2017 found it can harm structural connections between liver cells.

Always follow the directions and don't exceed the recommended amount, even if you're not feeling better.

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Effects of over-the counter pain killers wear off quickly and so it can be easy to take too much.

Never mix alcohol and mediations, especially if you're taking acetaminophen (paracetamol).

Acetaminophen is found in decongestants and cough syrups, so it's worth being aware what is in each medication you take.

Earlier this year we told how a mum tragically died from liver failure after accidentally overdosing on Lemsip.

Joan Ita Bergin, 58, had a cough and bad chest for a week in December last year and was drinking sachets to manage the symptoms.

She was eventually transferred to the Intensive Care Unit but she worsened and was diagnosed with liver failure.

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