The Toxicity of Tylenol/Paracetamol

1–2 minutes

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This weeks episode of This American Life reminds us of the dangers of the common pain/fever reliever Tylenol, or rather of the active ingredient acetaminophen, Paracetamol in Germany/Europe. The problem is that it is well-tolerated at small/the recommended doses (1000 mg per single dose/4000 mg daily) but is gets possibly fatally toxic (especially liver toxic) at a relatively low overdose level. The TAL episode is good, especially in uncovering and describing the bureaucracy that debates warning labels. 

(Sometimes they oversimplify for the sake of story-telling/effect. Ibuprofen, for example, can be toxic at small doses as well, for example for people who have/had chronic kidney diseases.)

I highly recommend this episode.


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