Public Health Notice: Alcohol and tylenol
Hello
It has come to my attention that a lot of people don't know about this, and as a toxicologist, I feel I should speak out.
If you have been drinking, don't take Tylenol during, or during a hangover. It's bad for you.
Without getting into too much details, basically alcohol consumption changes how your liver breaks town Tylenol (ie acetaminophen, aka paracetamol). Instead of being broken down in relatively harmless metabolites, the new breakdown products are toxic to your liver. It probably won't kill you right away, but in a few decades, you may have liver failure. Some people have very delicate livers however, and a slight acetaminophen overdose combined with alcohol can be fatal.
Even today, there is still some debate about the exact mechanisms behind this. But for the time being, it is my professional opinion that you should either use another painkiller during and following alcohol consumption, or alternatively grit your teeth and bear the pain.
It has come to my attention that a lot of people don't know about this, and as a toxicologist, I feel I should speak out.
If you have been drinking, don't take Tylenol during, or during a hangover. It's bad for you.
Without getting into too much details, basically alcohol consumption changes how your liver breaks town Tylenol (ie acetaminophen, aka paracetamol). Instead of being broken down in relatively harmless metabolites, the new breakdown products are toxic to your liver. It probably won't kill you right away, but in a few decades, you may have liver failure. Some people have very delicate livers however, and a slight acetaminophen overdose combined with alcohol can be fatal.
Even today, there is still some debate about the exact mechanisms behind this. But for the time being, it is my professional opinion that you should either use another painkiller during and following alcohol consumption, or alternatively grit your teeth and bear the pain.