It is widely acknowledged that mixing alcohol with other drugs can be hazardous. Alcohol has a powerful effect on the liver, and it impairs judgment, making alcohol consumption an unsafe practice. Some people may not know this, but alcohol also interacts dangerously with certain medications, such as Tylenol. When alcohol and Tylenol are combined, there is a risk of developing toxic acetaminophen levels in the body. Kidney damage from alcohol is a serious health concern.
The Effect of Alcohol in the Body?
A central nervous system depressant is the alcohol that hinders the transmission of messages between your brain and your body’s other organs. When alcohol reaches an empty stomach, it immediately begins to attack essential cell activities in the liver by breaking them down for excretion from your body. In alcoholics who have been drinking heavily over time, these vital cells can be destroyed or damaged, and alcohol can become a life-threatening poison to the body.
How does Tylenol work in the body?
Tylenol is a medication used to treat headaches and reduce fevers. Tylenol can be purchased at pharmacies over the counter or online, making it easy for anyone who wants pain relief to get it! Tylenol is an excellent addition to any medicine cabinet, but alcohol and Tylenol should not be mixed.
What happens when Alcohol and Tylenol are combined?
When alcohol and Tylenol are consumed together, it could lead to liver damage because the two substances in combination increase your risk of developing toxic levels of acetaminophen in the body. When alcohol and Tylenol are combined, acetaminophen levels in the liver can rise to dangerous or even fatal levels very quickly- causing severe damage to your organs in a short amount of time!
How much alcohol is considered “safe” with Tylenol?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not provided a safe alcohol limit when taking Tylenol because the risk for liver damage increases with even small amounts of alcohol. So, it is best to avoid drinking alcohol if you are taking Tylenol.
What are some signs that I have taken too much acetaminophen?
If you are taking Tylenol and experience any of the following signs, you should stop taking Tylenol and seek medical help immediately:
- Nausea
- vomiting
- loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
- Dark urine
Must Read: Fatty Liver Disease Alcohol Avoidance
How can I avoid alcohol and Tylenol from interacting?
Tips to avoid drug interactions:
- First, always read the labels of any medication you are taking to see if it interacts with alcohol.
- Second, ask your pharmacist or doctor if a safer alternative medication does not interact with alcohol.
- Lastly, always keep track of the number of alcoholic drinks you have to ensure that alcohol does not interfere with your medications!
Now that we know how dangerous mixing alcohol and Tylenol can be, let’s review eight steps you should take to avoid alcohol poisoning or any other adverse side effects from drinking alcohol while taking Tylenol:
Step 1: Take care of yourself and keep alcohol consumption to a minimum. If you begin to feel sick or uncomfortable after drinking alcohol, stop immediately! When Tylenol is combined with alcohol, the acetaminophen levels in your body can rapidly rise, resulting in liver damage and even death if not treated promptly.
Step 2: Avoid alcohol if you have been taking Tylenol for a chronic, long-term illness. If you’re combining alcohol with Tylenol and your body is already having trouble processing the medicine, it could be deadly and potentially fatal.
Step 3: Always read labels carefully when checking over medications before drinking alcohol. If alcohol and Tylenol are both ingredients, do not take either medication.
Step 4: Ask your doctor or pharmacist if there is a non-alcoholic pain reliever you can take that will help with your headaches or fever. They may suggest alternative medications that you can take that will not interact with alcohol.
Step 5: Keep track of how many drinks you have had throughout the day to ensure alcohol does not interfere with your medication intake.
Step 6: Take Tylenol and alcohol on an empty stomach to help avoid interactions. Also, remember that it is okay to drink a little alcohol when taking Tylenol but do not overdo it! If you feel sick or uncomfortable after drinking alcohol, stop immediately and call a doctor!
Step 7: Keep alcohol and Tylenol stored far away from each other to avoid accidental consumption. It will help you avoid alcohol poisoning if someone accidentally takes a drink instead of their medication or vice versa!
Step 8– Seek emergency medical attention immediately if you have consumed alcohol while taking Tylenol and begin experiencing any of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), dark urine.
Mixing alcohol and Tylenol is a bad idea. Why?
Alcohol can cause liver damage or affect someone’s ability to feel pain. At the same time, the medication will mask any side effects of poisoning like nausea and vomiting that might occur from too much ingestion of pills alone. People who have consumed both at once may also experience brief periods where their vision goes dark due to an effect called “DTs (dilated pupils).”
Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer that can damage the liver. Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity is an illness caused by acetaminophen in isolation. Acute liver failure is caused by the accumulation of poisons in your body, which results from various factors. In the United States, this toxicity is the most common cause of acute liver failure. Each year, around 30,000 individuals are admitted to hospitals in the United States to treat this condition.
When someone uses acetaminophen, most of the drug is broken down by liver enzymes. The body then eliminates it through urine, kidneys, or bile. The liver makes an antioxidant called glutathione to eliminate this toxin.
When the body takes more than the recommended amount of acetaminophen, the liver is overwhelmed with excess NAPQI toxin that can break down, resulting in an overdose.
Alcohol is also a toxin, and the liver must break it down; therefore, people who take both have an increased chance of liver damage.
Other ways to deal with the pain that don’t involve drugs or alcohol are:
- Ice packs for injuries
- Heat pads or warm baths for general aches and pains
- Massage therapy
- Chiropractic adjustments
- Acupuncture treatments.
The possible consequences for those who abuse these substances, including:
- Indigestion
- Ulcers and bleeding can both develop.
- suffer from liver damage
- Blood pressure changes
- Changes to your moods, emotions, and behavior
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Lack of coordination
- Nausea and vomiting
- A fast heart rate
- brain damage,
- DUI/DWI convictions,
- addiction
- And even death.
So, if you are taking Tylenol for any reason, it is essential to be aware of the risks associated with drinking alcohol. To avoid these adverse side effects, always take care when consuming alcohol and read labels carefully! Additionally, ask your doctor or pharmacist about safe alternatives to
If you are using any of the following medications, consult your doctor before drinking alcohol:
- Loratadine (Alavert)
- Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others)
- Naproxen sodium (Aleve, Naprosyn)
- Paracetamol (Panadol, others)
- Cimetidine (Tagamet HB), ranitidine (Zantac), omeprazole (Prilosec OTC).
- decongestants like Allegra (fexofenadine) or Allegra-D (fexofenadine/pseudoephedrine).
- Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is a medicine that’s available without a prescription.
- Clarinex (desloratadine)
- Claritin (loratadine) or Claritin-D (loratadine/pseudoephedrine) combines loratadine and pseudoephedrine.
- (brompheniramine/phenylephrine) Cold and Allergy (Dymethazine) Dymethazine is a decongestant. Fluticasone nasal spray reduces the number of fluids in your nasal passages, allowing you to breathe more easily.
- Sudafed for the Treatment of Runny Nose and Allergies (chlorpheniramine/phenylephrine)
- Triaminic Cold and Allergy (brompheniramine/phenylephrine) contains a combination of brompheniramine maleate and phenylephrine hydrochloride.
- Tylenol Cold and Flu (acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, phenylephrine) is a combination pain reliever/fever reducer consisting of four active ingredients.
- Zyrtec (cetirizine)
Keep alcohol and medications separate to avoid any dangerous interactions. If you are experiencing any symptoms after drinking alcohol while taking medication, seek medical attention immediately!
How long does Tylenol stay in your system?
Acetaminophen is quickly and wholly excreted via the kidneys, with a peak half-life of approximately 6 hours in healthy individuals. Because the effects dissipate after 4 to 6 hours, a typical dose begins to leave the body several hours later, which is why they may wear off after 4 to 6 hours. However, this doesn’t always imply that you’re ready to start drinking alcohol shortly after your acetaminophen dose has worn off.
Taking a significant amount of acetaminophen, especially for many days in a row, can put a strain on your liver. It’s difficult to determine if or when your liver is damaged and how long the effects might last.
Within 12 to 24 hours after your most recent dose of acetaminophen, it should be entirely out of your system if you only take it as directed and have no significant medical issues. If you’ve been ingesting more than the advised doses of acetaminophen, it might take a few days for your system to remove it.
Then When Can you take Tylenol if you’ve stopped drinking?
After taking acetaminophen, you may have a few drinks, but you shouldn’t drink alcohol while your liver is still processing the drug. In other words, don’t consume alcohol until 48 hours after taking acetaminophen for pain relief or fever control unless otherwise directed by a healthcare provider.
It’s best to speak with your health care provider if you’re taking Tylenol and are unsure when it’s safe to drink alcohol. That way, you can ensure that you don’t put your liver at further risk.
How alcohol and acetaminophen affect your liver’s function
When alcohol and acetaminophen are taken together, they both stress the liver. The improper combination of alcohol and acetaminophen can harm the liver more than each substance would alone.
The amounts of alcohol and acetaminophen in your system have an impact on your risk of severe liver damage from either substance. Even if you drink moderately, liver injury can occur due to taking the proper dose of acetaminophen but using it for longer than advised. It also happens when you drink too much, even if you follow recommended doses of acetaminophen.
The action of acetaminophen works by inhibiting the formation of an enzyme called NAPQI. As a result, your body breaks down more quickly and efficiently. To keep you from becoming dependent on them, doctors advise against combining acetaminophen with alcohol because it causes the excessive production of this harmful product in your body. Some of the active components in alcohol are also found in acetaminophen. Drinking too much alcohol or acetaminophen can make it more challenging to get rid of this chemical. The extra stuff harms your liver. It might result in significant liver damage.
Treatment for alcohol and acetaminophen overdose
If you drink alcohol, take acetaminophen, and experience any signs of liver damage, seek medical attention immediately! The sooner you receive medical attention for an acetaminophen overdose, the more likely you will survive. Because of this, doctors try to start therapy for acetaminophen toxicity as soon as possible after ingestion to get the best result possible for the patient. Treatment may include activated charcoal if the drug is taken within one hour of ingestion. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) might also be given to help prevent or lessen liver damage.
Liver failure may be the only treatment option for dying patients if these therapies fail. If the above evaluations are severely abnormal and the patient has developed hepatic encephalopathy, a brain disorder caused by an unbalanced liver, doctors will decide whether transplantation is required.
The bottom line
The “alcohol and Tylenol” combination is dangerous and can lead to liver damage. If you drink alcohol, never mix it with any medication, even if the doctor told you to do so. Doing this could have severe consequences for your health because both substances cause harm on their own, but when they are mixed, there is a much higher risk for adverse effects. Alcoholic beverages should be enjoyed in moderation, as well as over-the-counter medications like Tylenol. The alcohol will slow down the natural process by which alcohol leaves your system, making it take longer for any drink to leave your system. The result? You feel hungover more than you should because alcohol is still in your system when you wake up! [Read More]
