This is right from the ACA website, but I thought it was a good reminder. We really do forget that this stuff is bad for us, kind of like forgetting an oil well might leak….

Acetaminophen—the main ingredient in medications
such as Tylenol®—is the most widely used pain
reliever. While generally considered safe when taken
occasionally and in small doses, acute overdoses and
chronic consumption of acetaminophen can cause
liver toxicity.
According to research, 50 percent of all acute liver
failure in the United States is attributed to acetaminophen
consumption.1 While many of these cases result
from an overdose, even “correct dosage” may cause
liver damage, liver failure and death.1 In the United
States alone, approximately 56,000 liver injuries
requiring emergency treatment, 26,000 hospitalizations
and 458 deaths per year are attributed to aceta
minophen consumption.2 The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) is currently considering measures
to decrease the number of cases of unintentional
and intentional overdose leading to liver injury,
including limiting the maximum adult daily dose in
both prescription and over-the-counter medications
and improving labeling.3
Initial signs and symptoms of acetaminophen toxicity
are nausea and vomiting, so it’s hard to identify it
immediately. In some cases, liver toxicity may develop
without symptoms.
Drug-Free Pain Relief
Patients often rely on medications to treat acute and
chronic pain, Talk to your doctor of chiropractic about
conservative, medication-free pain relief. Depending
on your individual needs, your doctor of chiropractic
will develop a program of care that may combine
more than one type of treatment instead of using
drugs and surgery. The treatment plan may include
spinal manipulation, mobilization, or massage, as
well as procedures such as electric stimulation, rehabilitative
exercises, advice on nutrition, and suggestions
for posture modification. Doctors of chiropractic
are committed to wellness and avoiding the unnecessary
use of medications.
Be well!

Filed under: Uncategorized by admin on June 16, 2010