Acetaminophen poisoning is not uncommon. It’s a slow poison, and you—yes, you—might already be accumulating it in your body without realizing it. Once a certain threshold is reached, it becomes deleterious to the liver and even other organs.
The name might sound unfamiliar to you but it is the very same common paracetamol or Panadol that we so frequently ingest. 💊
I kid you not—I once knew someone whose very first ‘meal’ for the day was two tablets of paracetamol. Her reason? To prevent headaches because her days were usually stressful. Of course, that slow, unintentional suicidal behavior was stopped after proper education on its long-term implications.
Unfortunately, though ignorantly, many people abuse this drug. A lot of us are guilty of taking it too frequently. We buy it all the time, and if we’re being honest, many of you reading this even have a card or two of it in your home right now. 🏠💊
A slight headache? Boom! 💥 Like a reflex, we’ve popped in two tablets and quickly downed them with a glass of water—without even considering a simple remedy like resting or drinking water. 😴 It’s a bad habit, and one you seriously need to break.
I’ll keep saying this: All drugs are poisons! ☠️ It’s only the dose that determines their toxicity level. Never get so comfortable with a drug that you take it anyhow, in any quantity, and whenever you feel like it.
Acetaminophen, though readily available and seemingly harmless, is NOT! ❌ Its toxicity accumulates over time—and if you ask me, those are the most dangerous types of drugs. ⚠️
The Dangers of Acetaminophen Overuse
One major effect of acetaminophen toxicity is chronic liver damage (hepatotoxicity). It can also cause kidney damage and—yes—even the headache you’re using it for. A time will come when, instead of curing the headache, it will actually worsen it. No worries, I’ll explain how that happens.
Here’s the deal: repeatedly taking acetaminophen creates a cumulative effect where the liver is constantly working to break down the medication. 🏭 When you take the drug, it gets absorbed into your bloodstream, exerts its action, and eventually makes its way to your liver. The liver then breaks it down into smaller components for elimination. However, this constant stress on the liver wears it out over time, damaging and killing liver cells. ⚠️
Acetaminophen also depletes glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the liver from damage. 🛡️
Kidney damage? 🩸
Yep, long-term acetaminophen use can also cause chronic inflammation in the kidneys, leading to tissue and cell damage. It also impairs kidney function, making it harder for the kidneys to filter waste and toxins from the blood. 💦🩺
Now, about the irony of headaches... 🤕
Acetaminophen can actually cause headaches in two ways:
1. Medication Overuse Headache (MOH): 💊🔄 Frequently taking acetaminophen—even at recommended doses—can lead to this type of headache. The body becomes dependent on the medication, and stopping it triggers withdrawal headaches.
2. Rebound Effect: Here, the body experiences headaches when the drug wears off, creating a vicious cycle of taking more to relieve the headache, which only worsens the problem. 🚨
In addition to these, acetaminophen toxicity can also increase the risk of bleeding , cause allergic reactions , and lead to nausea and vomiting 🤢.
Aside from avoiding excessive acetaminophen use, never take it with other medications that increase the risk of liver damage. 🏥 And no, I’m not listing them all here—there are way too many. Just ensure to consult your pharmacist before taking any drugs or drug combinations. 👩⚕️💊
So, what’s the solution for headaches? 🤔🌿
God through nature has blessed us with several safe and effective alternatives: Stay hydrated (drink enough water), get enough sleep, like resting or relaxing away from screen time- preferably in a dark room 😴, and exercise regularly 🏃♂️. You can try out herbal teas like ginger ☕ and peppermint .
However, if you experience frequent, severe, or persistent headaches, ensure to consult your healthcare provider (Physician/Pharmacist). 🏥📞
Hope you....yes, you reading, has been informed and will change and warn another????