What are the side effects of too much Tylenol?

What are the symptoms of an acetaminophen overdose?.

Can taking Tylenol everyday hurt your stomach?

Is Tylenol bad for your stomach? No. Tylenol is safe for the stomach. Unlike nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Tylenol wont cause stomach bleeding or ulcers.

Does Tylenol mess with your stomach lining?

Acetaminophen, often referred by the brand name, Tylenol, is also used to treat minor pains but is not commonly recognized to cause damage to the stomach lining.

Can taking too much tylenol cause stomach pain

Most overdoses cause no immediate symptoms. If the overdose is very large, symptoms develop in 4 stages:

Table of Contents Show

Diagnosis of Acetaminophen Poisoning
Treatment of Acetaminophen Poisoning
More Information
What are the side effects of too much Tylenol?
Can taking Tylenol everyday hurt your stomach?
Does Tylenol mess with your stomach lining?

In stage 1 (after several hours), the person may vomit but does not seem ill. Many people have no symptoms in stage 1.
In stage 2 (after 24 to 72 hours), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain may develop. At this stage, blood tests show that the liver is functioning abnormally.
In stage 3 (after 3 to 4 days), vomiting becomes worse. Tests show that the liver is functioning poorly, and jaundice Jaundice in Adults In jaundice, the skin and whites of the eyes look yellow. Jaundice occurs when there is too much bilirubin (a yellow pigment) in the blood—a condition called hyperbilirubinemia. (See also Overview... read more
(yellowing of the eyes and skin) and bleeding develop. Sometimes the kidneys fail Overview of Kidney Failure This chapter includes a new section on COVID-19 and acute kidney injury (AKI). Kidney failure is the inability of the kidneys to adequately filter metabolic waste products from the blood. Kidney... read more and the pancreas becomes inflamed (pancreatitis Overview of Pancreatitis Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a leaf-shaped organ about 5 inches (about 13 centimeters) long. It is surrounded by the lower edge of the stomach and the first... read more ).
In stage 4 (after 5 days), the person either recovers or experiences failure of the liver and often other organs, which may be fatal.

If toxicity results from multiple smaller doses taken over time, the first indication of the problem may be abnormal liver function, sometimes with jaundice and/or bleeding.

Diagnosis of Acetaminophen Poisoning

Acetaminophen levels in the blood
Abnormal liver function tests

The doctor considers acetaminophen poisoning in people who may be attempting suicide Suicidal Behavior Suicide is death caused by an intentional act of self-harm that is designed to be lethal. Suicidal behavior includes completed suicide, attempted suicide, and suicidal ideation. Suicide usually... read more , in children who were given cough and cold preparations containing acetaminophen, and in people who may have accidentally ingested acetaminophen.

Doctors can predict the likelihood of acetaminophen toxicity by the amount ingested or, more accurately, by the level of acetaminophen in the person's blood. The blood level, measured between 4 hours and 24 hours after ingestion, may help predict the severity of the liver damage. Blood tests of liver function can sometimes help, particularly if toxicity may have resulted from doses repeated over time.

Treatment of Acetaminophen Poisoning

Charcoal and/or acetylcysteine
Sometimes, treatment for liver failure or liver transplant

If acetaminophen was taken within the previous several hours, activated charcoal may be given.

If the level of acetaminophen in the blood is high, the drug acetylcysteine is generally given by mouth or by vein to reduce the toxicity of the acetaminophen. Acetylcysteine is given repeatedly, for one to several days. This antidote helps prevent liver injury but does not reverse injury that has already occurred. Therefore, acetylcysteine must be given before liver injury occurs. Treatment for liver failure Treatment Liver failure is severe deterioration in liver function. Liver failure is caused by a disorder or substance that damages the liver. Most people have jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), feel tired... read more or liver transplant Liver Transplantation Liver transplantation is the surgical removal of a healthy liver or sometimes a part of a liver from a living person and then its transfer into a person whose liver no longer functions. (See... read more may also be necessary.

If toxicity results from multiple smaller doses taken over time, predicting the course of liver injury is difficult. Acetylcysteine is given if tests indicate liver damage is possible and sometimes if liver damage has already developed.

More Information

The following is an English-language resource that may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of this resource.

American Association of Poison Control Centers: Represents the US-based poison centers that provide free, confidential services (24/7) through the Poison Help Line (1-800-222-1222)

What are the side effects of too much Tylenol?

What are the symptoms of an acetaminophen overdose?.

Cramping..

Fatigue..

Loss of appetite..

Nausea..

Stomach pain..

Sweating..

Vomiting..

Can taking Tylenol everyday hurt your stomach?

Is Tylenol bad for your stomach? No. Tylenol is safe for the stomach. Unlike nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Tylenol won't cause stomach bleeding or ulcers.

Does Tylenol mess with your stomach lining?

Acetaminophen, often referred by the brand name, Tylenol, is also used to treat minor pains but is not commonly recognized to cause damage to the stomach lining.