Dangers of taking paracetamol?

Question

What negative health effects could I put myself at risk of if I take 4 to 5 paracetamol tablets about three to four times a week.

Could this cause me problems with my liver or kidneys in later life.

Answer 1

It is the same thing as in tylenol (acetaminophen).

The liver turns a small portion of it into a chemical that is toxic to the liver, there is a protective mechanism, but if you deplete that protection from continous use or high dosage it damages the liver.

Alcohol use makes this much worse. The makers of Tylenol don't out and out say this in their commericals, bad for sales.

Maximal doses for more than 10 days of use has resulted in death due to liver failure.

Longterm use at lower doses of just about any OTC pain product are associated with an increase in kidney disease.

Answer 2

Side effects from paracetamol are rare but can include:

    * a rash,

    * blood disorders,

    * hypotension (low blood pressure) - when given by injection into the vein (in hospital), and

    * liver and kidney damage - when taken at higher than recommended doses.