Tylenol Side Effects Liver Damage

Tylenol side effects like liver damage can have serious consequences for victims. If you believe you have been affected by the pain reliever Tylenol, contact a Tylenol attorney for help.

One of the most dangerous aspects of how comfortable consumers have become with taking pharmaceutical drugs is the adverse side effects associated with these medications, about which many consumers are unaware. Even Tylenol (acetaminophen), the over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer that sits in almost every medicine cabinet in the country has been linked to serious and even life-threatening side effects like liver damage, liver failure and even wrongful death. In fact, the FDA warns that there is significant evidence indicating that liver damage caused by Tylenol use may result from lack of consumer awareness about the link between acetaminophen overdose and severe liver injury. Unfortunately, the lack of adequate warnings provided by drug manufacturing companies and the FDA only increases the risk of consumers suffering from major side effects. If you have suffered from liver damage and you believe the pain reliever Tylenol to be the cause, contact a Tylenol attorney to explore your compensation options.

Tylenol Liver Damage Symptoms

Tylenol Liver damage occurs when large portions of the liver become damaged beyond repair and the liver is no longer able to function. Acute liver damage is often difficult to diagnose, because the initial symptoms of the condition typically mimic other illnesses, like the flu. Among the possible symptoms associated with liver damage are:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite

However, as liver damage progresses, the patient may exhibit more serious symptoms like jaundice, sleepiness, swollen abdomen, bleeding easily, confusion, and may even slip into a coma.

Liver Damage Treatment and Prognosis

Tylenol related liver damage is a life-threatening condition that requires emergency medical care. Although most cases of liver damage occur gradually over many years, acute liver damage caused by acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose can occur in as little as 48 hours. If detected early, liver damage resulting from acetaminophen overdose can sometimes be treated and its effects reversed. In other instances, a liver transplant may be the only chance of survival. Unfortunately, acute liver damage can result in serious complications, including excessive bleeding and increasing pressure in the brain.

Tylenol FDA Warnings Regarding Liver Damage

Although research dating back to the 1990s suggested that acetaminophen use was a major contributor to the risk of acute liver damage in the United States, it wasn't until earlier this year that the agency announced that it was advising manufacturers of acetaminophen products to limit the maximum amount of acetaminophen in their products to 325 mg per tablet or capsule. Unfortunately, studies have shown that even healthy individuals taking Tylenol as recommended may be at risk of experiencing life-threatening side effects like liver damage. The Journal of the American Medical Association published a recent study indicating that healthy adults taking the maximum recommended doses of Tylenol for two weeks had abnormal liver test results. In response, the FDA required Johnson & Johnson to reduce the maximum recommended daily dose of Tylenol in July 2011, from 4,000 mg to 3,000 mg, in an attempt to minimize the risk of liver damage associated with Tylenol overdose.

Contact a Tylenol Attorney for Liver Damage Side Effects

Despite a number of efforts since the early 1990s to reduce the incidence of acetaminophen-related liver injury, liver damage caused by acetaminophen overdose remains a public health problem. In fact, from 1998 to 2003, acetaminophen overdose was the leading cause of acute liver damage in the United States, with 48% of cases resulting from unintentional overdose. If you or a loved one has suffered from liver damage, which you believe to be caused by Tylenol, contact a qualified Tylenol attorney for legal help. You may have grounds to file a Tylenol lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson in order to seek financial compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. By pursuing a Tylenol injury claim against Johnson & Johnson, you can also help bring public attention to the potentially harmful nature of one of the most commonly-used drugs in the United States for treating fever and pain.