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Would Acetaminophen Cause Side Effects After Long Term Use?
Question: I am a 59 y.o. male .I currently have an ongoing prescription for chronic lower back pain (I have a compressed disc in my Lumbar Spine) - Hydrocodone 7.5 / 325 acetometiphan , 4 per day / 120 month.
I work at a local hospital and was recently having a discussion one of the pharmacists who has the opinion that the long term use of the acetometiphan could be detrimental to my liver. My last "labs" showed my liver to be okay, but I'd like an opinion as to whether something without "Tylenol" would be safer.
I work at a local hospital and was recently having a discussion one of the pharmacists who has the opinion that the long term use of the acetometiphan could be detrimental to my liver. My last "labs" showed my liver to be okay, but I'd like an opinion as to whether something without "Tylenol" would be safer.
Brief Answer:
no safer choice...
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
acetaminophen or paracetamol (it's the same) can be detrimental to the liver if used without respect for dosage recommendations. 4 pills containing 325mg of it means 1300mg per day which is not too much. You could even take the double dose without significant risk. Prolonged use of paracetamol is not advised though because it may indeed cause complications. The problem is that its alternatives (NSAIDs mostly) have far more potential side effects, so that paracetamol seems like an innocent drug when compared to them.
The danger for abuse of opioids (like hydrocodone) sounds more like a problem. In general, using pain-killers is advised when the pain is intolerable and interferes with every day activities. If it does then the patient should accept the risk for side effects...
I hope it helps!
Kind Regards!
no safer choice...
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
acetaminophen or paracetamol (it's the same) can be detrimental to the liver if used without respect for dosage recommendations. 4 pills containing 325mg of it means 1300mg per day which is not too much. You could even take the double dose without significant risk. Prolonged use of paracetamol is not advised though because it may indeed cause complications. The problem is that its alternatives (NSAIDs mostly) have far more potential side effects, so that paracetamol seems like an innocent drug when compared to them.
The danger for abuse of opioids (like hydrocodone) sounds more like a problem. In general, using pain-killers is advised when the pain is intolerable and interferes with every day activities. If it does then the patient should accept the risk for side effects...
I hope it helps!
Kind Regards!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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