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Can Tylenol Cause Liver Damage?
Question: Hi doctors well here goes . I was feeling kinda sick last week and I made a mistake of taking to many tylonal pills like for 3-4 days straight I took 2 pills 350 MG each once a day now my stool has been black for the last two days I been having bloating and some diaeriha. I also noticed my eyes somewhat yellow . I hope I haven't done any damage to my liver, can someone please advice me on what I should do now? Thank you
Brief Answer:
Need for blood examination for routine and liver functions.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to health care magic,
It is very unlikely that 2 tablets of tylenol 350 mg (acetoaminophen) can cause serious liver damage when taken for 3 to 4 days consecutively.
But I would advise you to check some blood works like complete blood counts,ESR,liver function tests (SGPT,SGOT,Alkaline phosphatase,bilirubin),urine analysis and stool for routine microscopy with occult blood to rule out chances of jaundice or liver injury.
As you had a black stools,stomach bloating,diarrhea with yellow discoloration of eyes which are the side effects of this drug and simultaneously you are also taking aspirin and naproxen (which are NSAIDs) having the property of liver and stomach problems.
You should see some local physician and get all the tests which i suggested above and rule out the possibility of jaundice or liver injury.
In most of the cases,this kind of symptoms are completely reversible with symptomatic treatment like antacids (pantoprazole) and probiotics (lactic acid baccilus) with further cessation of this tablets as advised by your treating doctor.
Also the fact that liver is a big organ and has the power to regenerate the damaged live cells,so no need to get panic now and just visit nearby physician who will know about it and will guide you according to the reports.
Hope this will help you and feel free to ask if you have more questions.
Regards,
Dr.Sandip Kabra
Need for blood examination for routine and liver functions.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to health care magic,
It is very unlikely that 2 tablets of tylenol 350 mg (acetoaminophen) can cause serious liver damage when taken for 3 to 4 days consecutively.
But I would advise you to check some blood works like complete blood counts,ESR,liver function tests (SGPT,SGOT,Alkaline phosphatase,bilirubin),urine analysis and stool for routine microscopy with occult blood to rule out chances of jaundice or liver injury.
As you had a black stools,stomach bloating,diarrhea with yellow discoloration of eyes which are the side effects of this drug and simultaneously you are also taking aspirin and naproxen (which are NSAIDs) having the property of liver and stomach problems.
You should see some local physician and get all the tests which i suggested above and rule out the possibility of jaundice or liver injury.
In most of the cases,this kind of symptoms are completely reversible with symptomatic treatment like antacids (pantoprazole) and probiotics (lactic acid baccilus) with further cessation of this tablets as advised by your treating doctor.
Also the fact that liver is a big organ and has the power to regenerate the damaged live cells,so no need to get panic now and just visit nearby physician who will know about it and will guide you according to the reports.
Hope this will help you and feel free to ask if you have more questions.
Regards,
Dr.Sandip Kabra
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
Thank you doctor for the detailed answer. I think I have had black stools before it's just searching over the Internet has panicked me. I'm sure I'll be okie, I just need to lay off taking over the counter med like I do regularly. I don't drink alcohol only when I go out like once a month. I already made an appointment just hope my stool is brown tommarow.
Brief Answer:
Black stool is most probably drug induced in your case.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for the quick response.
Black stools could be a worrisome symptom because it may be due to bleeding into the gastrointestinal tract (however stool examination report will confirm it) most often the esophagus, stomach or duodenum.Red blood cells from the blood are broken down by digestive enzymes and turn the stool black.
But black stools may also be seen occasionally because of multiple NSAIDs (aspirin,naproxen,tylenol in your case) taken simultaneously in a day which usually subsides by itself as you will stop taking this drugs further.
The important point here is to rule out jaundice or hepatic injury by doing blood works,liver function tests and urine-stool examination as i suggested.
Regards,
Dr.Sandip Kabra
Black stool is most probably drug induced in your case.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for the quick response.
Black stools could be a worrisome symptom because it may be due to bleeding into the gastrointestinal tract (however stool examination report will confirm it) most often the esophagus, stomach or duodenum.Red blood cells from the blood are broken down by digestive enzymes and turn the stool black.
But black stools may also be seen occasionally because of multiple NSAIDs (aspirin,naproxen,tylenol in your case) taken simultaneously in a day which usually subsides by itself as you will stop taking this drugs further.
The important point here is to rule out jaundice or hepatic injury by doing blood works,liver function tests and urine-stool examination as i suggested.
Regards,
Dr.Sandip Kabra
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
Hi doctor.
Just to fallow up i made an appointment to see my doctor and he ordered a Stool test Kit. I have already went to the bathroom and did a sample. My stool was formed and it was black and tary , like when i moved it it made lots of marks on the white bowl on the inside of the toilet.
I work in a healthcare skilled nursing facility, where some patients have C-Diff i always wear gloves, but i was wondering if somehow i could have been infected?
Can C-Diff make my stool black? Again my stool is black and I have some bloating in my lower abdomen, I don't have a fever and my BP was 130/75 earlier today in the doctors office. Thank you
Just to fallow up i made an appointment to see my doctor and he ordered a Stool test Kit. I have already went to the bathroom and did a sample. My stool was formed and it was black and tary , like when i moved it it made lots of marks on the white bowl on the inside of the toilet.
I work in a healthcare skilled nursing facility, where some patients have C-Diff i always wear gloves, but i was wondering if somehow i could have been infected?
Can C-Diff make my stool black? Again my stool is black and I have some bloating in my lower abdomen, I don't have a fever and my BP was 130/75 earlier today in the doctors office. Thank you
Brief Answer:
Clostridium difficile does not cause black stools.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for the reply.
Clostridium difficile bacteria causes gut infection and is transmitted from person to person by the fecal-oral route or it becomes pathological only in those individuals who have certain predisposing factors like immuno-suppressive, long term antibiotics use.
So,if you always wear gloves while dealing with hospital patients (even infected with C-diffi) then there is very less chances of being infected with the same.
Also,it does not cause black stool,the reason should be found by blood and stool examination as we discussed earlier.
In your case,it is likely to be due to number of NSAIDs which you have taken so far.Lower abdomen bloating is also drug induced which can be easily treated with symptomatic medications (antacids as we discussed).
Go for all the tests and consult your doctor.If your black stool is persistent then he/she may advise you to undergo upper GI endoscopy.
Regards,
Dr.Sandip Kabra
Clostridium difficile does not cause black stools.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for the reply.
Clostridium difficile bacteria causes gut infection and is transmitted from person to person by the fecal-oral route or it becomes pathological only in those individuals who have certain predisposing factors like immuno-suppressive, long term antibiotics use.
So,if you always wear gloves while dealing with hospital patients (even infected with C-diffi) then there is very less chances of being infected with the same.
Also,it does not cause black stool,the reason should be found by blood and stool examination as we discussed earlier.
In your case,it is likely to be due to number of NSAIDs which you have taken so far.Lower abdomen bloating is also drug induced which can be easily treated with symptomatic medications (antacids as we discussed).
Go for all the tests and consult your doctor.If your black stool is persistent then he/she may advise you to undergo upper GI endoscopy.
Regards,
Dr.Sandip Kabra
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
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