I did some research on Tylenol, the most widely used pain killer. I found some interesting facts and something that could perhaps save someones life if they try to commit suicide with the pain killer Tylenol or Acetaminophen or Paracetamol. Overdose may result in severe or possibly fatal liver damage.
What I didn’t know is that there is an antidote that could perhaps save that someone’s life. Many suicide attempts are made with Tylenol and unfortunately they sometimes awaken but later die from liver toxicity. Even more interesting, the reasons for this poisoning are to do with the process by which paracetamol is eliminated from the body. It is first metabolized to a quinone imine. This compound is extremely toxic, and like other such compounds is eliminated in the liver by reaction with a tripeptide, glutathione. If insufficient glutathione is available, the toxic quinone will not be eliminated and begins to react with cellular proteins and nucleic acids in the liver, eventually causing irreparable damage. The two compounds, Methionine and N-acetylcysteine can boost levels of the vial glutathione in the liver, and so can be used as antidote for paracetamol (tylenol) poisoning, if the overdose if discovered in time. Article below.
Here are the ingredients from the tylenol website. See bottom of article, I have listed the meaning of the non-medical ingredients to see what the heck they are and what they mean to our health as well:
Medicinal Ingredient: Acetaminophen, 650 mg
Non-Medicinal Ingredients (alphabetical): carnauba wax, cellulose, corn starch, FD&C red no. 40, hydroxyethylcellulose, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, povidone, sodium starch glycolate, triacetin.
So just what is Acetaminophen? Here is what I found:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracetamol
Paracetamol or acetaminophen
While generally safe in Recommended doses – 1,000.00 mg per single dose and up to 4,000 mg per day for adults/up to 2,0000 mg if consuming alcohol.
Acute overdose can cause fatal liver damage and in rare individuals a normal dose can do the same. * Risk is heightened by alcohol consumption.
*** PARACETAMOL TOXICITY IS THE FOREMOST CAUSE OF ACUTE LIVER FAILURE IN THE WESTERN WORLD AND ACCOUNTS FOR DRUG OVERDOSES IN THE UNITED STATES, THE UNITED KINGDOM, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND!!!!!
Now we can see how serious this little pill really is. Did you notice that the single recommended dose is 1,000 grams, yet their pill contains 650 grams, so you are overdosing each time you take two tylenol together, interesting.
So back to the makers website, I really had to look to find the side effects, they are hidden under the products tab, under the caution tab:
Caution
Keep out of the reach of children. This package contains enough drug to seriously harm a child. Do not use with other drugs containing acetaminophen. Do not take more than the maximum daily dose. Overdose may result in severe or possibly fatal liver damage. Do not take if allergic to acetaminophen. Consult a doctor if: Your symptoms last for more than 5 days; You develop allergic reactions such as wheezing, rash or itching. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you: Are pregnant or breastfeeding; Have chronic alcoholism; Have a serious liver or kidney disease; Use any other medications including natural health products, prescription drugs, salicylates or other pain and fever relief medications. In case of overdose, call a Poison Control Centre or doctor immediately, even if you do not notice any possible signs or symptoms such as increased sweating, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and loss of appetite. Use only as directed by a doctor.
There you have it from the Tylenol makers. So I did some further research on Paracetamol. When it is mixed with codeine, it becomes Tylenol. See below. :
http://www.ch.ic.ac.uk/rzepa/mim/drugs/html/paracet_text.htm
Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)
A Chance Discovery
The painkilling properties of paracetamol were discovered by accident when a similar molecule (acetanilide) was added to a patient’s prescription about 100 years ago. But since acetanilide is toxic in moderate doses, chemists modified its structure to try and find a compound that was less harmful but which still retained the analgesic properties. One of these compounds is N-acetyl-para-aminophenol, which is also known as acetaminophen in the US and paracetamol (from para-acetyl-amino-phenol) in the UK. When mixed with codeine it goes by the tradename Tylenol.
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| Acetanilide | Paracetamol | Aniline |
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In fact, in the body, the original compound, acetanilide is partially converted into a mixture of paracetamol and aniline. The paracetamol provides the painkilling properties, but the aniline is toxic. Paracetamol has a very similar structure to aspirin, and because of this they are recognised by the same enzyme. This enzyme is responsible for the biosynthesis of prostoglandins, which are involved in the dilation of blood vessels that causes the pain experienced in a headache. Reduction of the amount of prostoglandin, therefore, helps prevent headaches and other pain.
How it’s made
Paracetamol is one of the most common drugs used in the world, and is manufactured in huge quantities. The starting material for the commercial manufacture of paracetamol is phenol, which is nitrated to give a mixture of the ortho and para-nitrotoluene. The o-isomer is removed by steam distillation, and the p-nitro group reduced to a p-amino group. This is then acetylated to give paracetamol.
Paracetamol as Poison
Because paracetamol is a potent drug that is available without prescription, it is often used in suicide attempts, and in this respect it is potentially more dangerous than other over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin. This is because paracetamol overdoses often cause liver failure, and there have been many cases where attempted suicides have awakened from an overdose and changed their minds, yet still died a few days later from liver damage.
The reasons for this poisoning are to do with the process by which paracetamol is eliminated from the body. It is first metabolised to a quinone imine:
This compound is extremely toxic, and like other such compounds is eliminated in the liver by reaction with a tripeptide, glutathione. If insufficient glutathione is available, the toxic quinone will not be eliminated and begins to react with cellular proteins and nucleic acids in the liver, eventually causing irreparable damage.
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However, two compounds, methionine and N-acetylcysteine can boost levels of the vital glutathione in the liver, and so can be used as antidotes for paracetamol poisoning if the overdose is discovered in time. A new formulation of paracetamol is now being marketed in the UK which incorporates methianine, such that the drug carries its own antidote with it!
Here are the non-medical ingredients from Tylenol’s website and their meaning from dictionary.com:
Non-Medicinal Ingredients (alphabetical): carnauba wax, cellulose, corn starch, FD&C red no. 40, hydroxyethylcellulose, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, povidone, sodium starch glycolate, triacetin.
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carnauba wax car·nau·ba–noun 1.
a palm, Copernicia prunifera, of Brazil, having palmate leaves covered with wax.
2. Also called carnauba wax . the hard, lustrous wax obtained from the leaves of this tree, used as a polish or floor wax |
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cellulose
corn starch corn·starch
| Red40 in Pain relievers | ||
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 Even pain medications may contain Red Dye #40. The reason is based in the fact that there are only four common medications available for over the counter pain relief – aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). Manufacturers need to find a way to to differentiate their product from their competitors, otherwise the consumer is likely to purchase a low priced “generic” pain reliever. Because they contain the same active ingredient as the generic, the only alternative is packaging and branding. By wrapping their pain reliever in a red and yellow striped shell and spending millions of dollars advertising that their colored pill is better than their competitor’s, they can build up product identification, brand loyalty and profits. Increasingly, the generics have diversified to the point where they now mimic the packaging of the product, so you may find generic ibuprofen in either yellow, orange or brown to mimic the leading brands |
HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE
Binder; Emulsion Stabilizer; Film Former; Viscosity Increasing Agent – Aqueous; BINDING; EMULSION STABILISING; FILM FORMING; STABILISING; VISCOSITY CONTROLLING
SCORE
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1 | low hazard |
| 82% | data gap | |
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Also listed as
CELLULOSE HYDROXYETHYLATE; CELLULOSE, 2-HYDROXYETHYL ETHER; H. E. CELLULOSE; 2-HYDROXYETHYL ETHER CELLULOSE; CELLULOSE, 2HYDROXYETHYL ETHER; 2-HYDROXYETHYL CELLULOSE; 2-HYDROXYETHYL CELLULOSE ETHER; AW 15 (POLYSACCHARIDE) ; BL 15; CELLOSIZE 4400H16; CELLOSIZE QP
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Developmental/reproductive toxicity |
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Allergies/immunotoxicity |
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Use restrictions |
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Contamination concerns |
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Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), |
MAGNESIUM STEARATE
Renal Complications Demonstrated in Laboratory Animals
The United States National Library of Medicine Toxicology Data Network (TOXNET) lists the toxic effects that occurred when magnesium stearate was fed to experimental rats. In some rats, urinary stones developed, and in others a condition known as nephrocalcinosis occurred, where excess calcium deposits in the kidneys. Nephrocalcinosis is a dangerous condition that may lead to kidney damage and failure.
Human Health Effects
The United States National Library of Medicine Toxicology Data Network lists various potential health side effects of magnesium stearate in humans. The network has deemed the chemical slightly toxic if ingested. There have even been reports of deaths following accidental inhalation of baby dusting powder containing magnesium stearate as an ingredient. In cases of accidental ingestion of a large dose, it can result in acute magnesium toxicity manifested by weakness, a drop in blood pressure and a slowing of the heart.
Other Adverse Effects
The International Programme on Chemical Safety mentions several chemical hazards related to magnesium stearate. In addition to being spontaneously combustible, magnesium stearate is said to emit toxic fumes and pungent smoke when heated. The International Programme on Chemical Safety further enumerates that this can affect breathing and cause the development of coughing. Vomiting can also be triggered as a result of the ingestion of magnesium particles scattered in the air as a result of heating.
Sodium Starch Glycolate or SSG
Overview
Sodium starch glycolate, or SSG, is a common ingredient in many pharmaceutical pills, although it is not a medicine. SSG is the sodium salt of a carboxymethyl ether of starch. It is commonly used as a rapid disintegrant, a chemical that promotes the rapid distingetration and immediate release of orally administered drugs. It coats the pills keeping the medicine in, but releases the medicine rapidly upon contact with water.
Warning
Sodium starch glycolate can be derived from any starch source. For example, corn, rice, potatoes and wheat are all potential sources. Some of these sources, are not gluten-free; for example, wheat. Therefore, medications listing sodium starch glycolate as an ingredient may not be gluten-free. For people in need of a gluten-free diet, such as those suffering from celiac disease, or people with gluten allergies, it is important to determine the exact botanical source of the sodium starch glycolate in the medication before that mediation can be considered safe.