74 lines
3.1 KiB
Plaintext
74 lines
3.1 KiB
Plaintext
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ACETAMINOPHENMEDICATIONALCOHOLTYLENOLDATRILDRUGSMEDICINE
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ACETAMINOPHEN - MEDICATION ALERT (Mayo Clinic)
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ACETAMINOPHEN - MEDICATION ALERT
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--------------------------------
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Issued by the Mayo Clinics health newsletter!
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This Pain killer and alcohol can make a lethal combination:
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says the Mayo Clinic's newsletter.
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Acetaminophen has become a popular drug, especially since
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1955 when it first became available without prescription in the
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United States. It is best known in America by the heavily
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advertised brand names Tylenol and Datril. Nevertheless, it is
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present either alone or in a combination with other drugs in more
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than 200 over-the-counter formulations promoted for relief of
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pain, cough and colds.
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In equivalent dosage, acetaminophen is just as effective as
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aspirin in relieving mild pain and reducing fever. In contrast to
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aspirin, acetaminophen does not irritate the stomach lining or
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interfere with the role of blood platelets in controlling
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bleeding from small blood vessels. Also, it has not been
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associated with Reye's syndrome. For these reasons, this drug has
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been heavily promoted as a safe aspirin substitute.
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When taken in recommended amounts, acetaminophen is a
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remarkably safe medication. Yet, if ingested in large amounts
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(for example, either inadvertently or in a suicide attempt, this
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drug can cause severe liver and kidney damage. Until recent
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years, acetaminophen poisoning has been infrequently recognized
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in America. In contrast, for reasons that are unclear, deaths
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from overdosage often have been reported from the United Kingdom
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(where the drug is called paracetamol).
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Alcohol and acetaminophen
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After excessive alcohol consumption, many people experience
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abdominal distress caused by inflammation of the stomach lining
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(gastritis), brought on by the alcohol. Aspirin also can cause
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gastritis. Because acetaminophen does not have this effect,
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people who drink heavily often use it in preference to aspirin.
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When intoxicated, people often behave irrationally. Drug
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overdoses are common.
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Now there is some evidence that certain alcoholics may have
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a particular sensitivity to the toxic effects of acetaminophen.
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There are several recent reports of severe liver damage and death
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in alcoholics who have taken little more than the maximum
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recommended dose of acetaminophen. Although at present not all
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experts agree about this possible risk, we believe that persons
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who drink heavily should take acetaminophen with great caution.
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Alcohol also may interact with a variety of other commonly
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prescribed drugs and lead to unexpected and sometimes dangerous
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effects. Our recommendation - don't mix alcohol with any
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medication unless you have discussed the risks with your
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physician.
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Mayo Clinic Health Letter: To subscribe write
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Mayo Clinic Health Letter,
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Mayo Medical Resources,
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Rochester, Mn
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55905
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Telephone 1- 507-284-4577.
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* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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