Acetaminophen. It is in Tylenol. It is an over the counter medication.
Not such a need for concern, then, right? Wrong.
Acetaminophen addiction is more common than you would think. It is also a source that has been linked to some suicides. A person can damage his or her liver permanently by taking an excessive amount of acetaminophen. Taken with alcohol? Ouch, double trouble for the liver in those cases.
Homeless people, teenagers, working mothers. They can all find themselves overdosing on acetaminophen by taking excessive doses of Tylenol or Vicodin. Sometimes, acetaminophen is taken in order to commit suicide. Perhaps the person is scared to try something more violent like a self-inflicted gunshot or hanging. Perhaps he or she just wants to take so much acetaminophen that he falls asleep, never to wake up again. Suicide without pain.
The truth is, someone who takes acetaminophen for that reason is in a great deal of pain emotionally. Acetaminophen addiction can lead to health problems and yes, it can kill you, even if you did not intend for it to.
Teenagers can be at great risk for acetaminophen addiction. Boys take them to alleviate the pain from football practice because they don’t want the coach to think they “can’t handle it”. Girls take them for cramps. No problem in either case except when they are taking acetaminophen like it’s a bag of candy, not aware of the fact that they are causing damage to one of their most vital organs, their livers. Add to it the fact that they are regulars at the Friday night lake party after the game and drinking some beer and a few months down the road, their parents and doctors are puzzled by tests showing permanent liver damage.
Acetaminophen Pills Addiction
Acetaminophen addiction troubles can last a lifetime and unfortunately, can cost a life, too. Parents, you warn your teenagers about drugs and alcohol and unsafe sex, right? Pull that bottle of Tylenol out of the bathroom medicine cabinet and spend some time telling them about the dangers of acetaminophen addiction as well. If they feel the need to take it for cramps or pain, tell them to come to you and make you aware of what they are feeling. Just as a lot of parents let their kids know they can call them from a party if there is trouble or drinking without fear of grounding till they are 40, let them know there is nothing embarrassing about keeping you aware of their over the counter acetaminophen intake. Conversations such as this can save a teen’s liver and his life.
Author: National Addiction Resources
America's Best Treatment Directory
Acetaminophen is not addictive. Yes, one can overdose on Tylenol, it is the most over dosed drug (FDA), but Tylenol is not addictive because it has no affect in the reward pathway of the brain, also known as nucleus accumbens. Dopamine, a motivation and pleasure chemical, is not released or affected by the administration of acetaminophen. Release of dopamine, serotonin, or norepinephin, other neurotransmitters, in high quantities is a necessary factor in the development of addiction. Considering acetaminophen does not affect any of these neurotransmitters, there is no biological way that Tylenol could be addictive.
Elizabeth, explain this: Why, when I was tapering off hydrocodone, when I began to feel the nagging withdrawal symptoms such as leg cramps, nervousness, irritability, when I took just a half of a 500 mg Tylenol, did the withdrawal symptoms ease?
I realize this is an old thread and I may not get a reply from you, but perhaps other people have noticed the same thing and may comment.
Thank you,
Al
@rElizabeth
Although everything you said is true and it may not be addictive like opiates or other notoriously addictive drugs it is however more of a routine addiction. Not a physical dependency. Example, come home from football practice with a headache take some Tylenol my legs hurt because I’ve worked all day. Take Tylenol I have a tooth ache Tylenol or becomes a first response in a case of need not necessarily even without reason it is simply an overused drug.
my mother in law sometimes takes a bottle a week. We take it away because she lives in asissited living facility. she gets more when they take trips to walmart. I asked one of the doctors, why? He said that unlike ibuprofen for inflammation, Tylenol throws a blanket over the pain. also he said if you take it for many years it dulls feelings AND can cause mouth tremors sometimes looks like Parkinsons.I can always tell when she has bought more because she will say her stomach hurts and her jaw is shaking. I think its addictive . Its curious because you can not find information about this , why not?
Tylenol/Acetaminophen is addictive and some people do feel withdrawals so severe you feel like death is upon you and the majority of the medical community is either in denial or clueless to this fact.
Acetaminophen/Tylenol is a drug, thousands of people die every year from overdoses, over 100,000 livers are damaged every year, in fact the FDA just passed a law, July 2013 that requires “red caps” and better labels among other warnings and maximum daily limits.
There are physical effects you feel when you take it and your mind/body remembers that. The first signs of withdrawal from Tylenol/acetaminophen are usually increased heart rates and headaches but this can quickly elevate to serious physical symptoms that feel like death is near, when I finally figured out what was causing me so much discomfort (from suddenly stopping Tylenol/acetaminophen) I started taking Tylenol again and my symptoms were 95% gone within a couple days, at that point I slowly reduced my daily dosage of this drug over time until I could go all day without feeling any physical/withdrawal symptoms. I tested this a few times during this period by stopping completely and the symptoms would return.
Make no mistake, although this is not an opiate or other drug which stimulates dopamine/serotonin or other neurotransmitters, for some people, if you take this drug daily over a period of time your body will feel horrible if you stop suddenly, do the smart thing and “slowly” take less and less each day until you can stop completely without feeling any discomfort.
You are not crazy, withdrawal from Tylenol/acetaminophen is real for some people. Our bodies are walking chemical factories and each of us is unique so it makes perfect sense that “some people” will experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop suddenly.
Your comment is wonderful, My friend has the same experience as you recently. I told your suggestion getting from your comment. Do you give me a email which can be connected to ask you other question about the Acetaminophen withdrawal treatment. Thank you!
I agree with CC, Elizabeth doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Acetaminophen is definitely addictive. I’ve been taking it for years for headaches, and I usually have one tablet of (250mg acetaminophen, 250mg aspirin, 65mg caffeine–you know which brand I’m talking about) in the morning with my tea. Don’t tell me it’s not addictive; some days I feel groggy, head and neck achy even though I don’t have a full blown headache. I’m quitting now, 4 days cold turkey and my neck and shoulders ache, and the strangest thing, my lower back, buttock and thigh muscles ache like you sometimes do when you’re coming down with a fever. Thankfully baby aspirin has dampened some of it and oddly enough, all headache symptoms are completely gone in 4 days cold turkey. (halleluiah) Just because acetaminophen (and other substances) “have no affect in the reward pathway of the brain” doesn’t mean they aren’t addictive. Elizabeth, kindly shut up.
My wife just passed away. I now am a single father of three kids… Amazing by the way. My wife was strong but I did firsthand witness the addiction she faced. I never realized how bad Tylenol can be when abused but I’ll tell you, it is very hard and never think it could be your wife and mother of your children. If your spouse friend or just anyone who takes them and refuses to seek medical assistance take the time to explain and reassure the importance of proper medical attention. You never want to be in the shoes I found myself in. I found out she had liver failure due to Tylenol Toxicity according to hospital and when this happened she got real sick real quick and was the most difficult situation. More people than just themselves are at risk.
I have been facing a 5 year n quil addiction.I have moved here from a diffrent country and it was very hard mentally to be bymyself with no family.Today I am 31 and I have withdrawled from it 2 weeks ago.I am feeling very tired ,and have pain on the left side,…it is probably the liver.I am scared to go to the doctor,I think I am going to die anyways.I am a marathon runner as well and I am thinking the fact that kept me alive untill now was the fact I have a daily Two hours work out routine .I wanted to ask you if she withdrawled or she was still taking Tylenol when she died?as well how many years was she
on Tylenol for?what symptoms she had when her liver failed?sorry to ask
I am so scared
I have been ill for many years due to acetaminophen. I have taken it for extended periods at overdose levels because I am constantly sick from another illness. The acetaminophen helps with my primary illness symptoms but it does not take long before I am even sicker from acetaminophen toxicity. I have only managed to stay from it for 3-4 days before very nasty withdrawal set in. I feel like I am going to die and I am very disoriented, confused and extremely ill. If I take some more acetaminophen the withdrawal symptoms end very quickly but I soon begin taking far too many again. It has been a horrible roller coaster ride and I’m quite sure I have serious liver problems. Acetaminophen is going to kill me and I am totally unable to stop.
If only the doctors could figure out how to treat my original illness symptoms than I might have a chance of getting off acetaminophen. I have been fighting this overdose/withdrawal cycle for years now so don’t try to tell me that acetaminophen is not addictive. I am proof that it is.
i was addicted to tylenol because of chronic migraines, and the withdrawl was pure hell. I was also addicted to excedrin, to the point that gave me ulcers. @DARCY I know your pain!!!
Holy Cannoli Batman ~ I am 73 Just had bypass surgery in my left leg. Stopped the hydrocodone and had definite withdrawal. So, now i am 2 weeks post-op and still taking the acetaminophen once or twice a day when incision hurts, or circulation ramps up in lower leg after not having been there for a very long time.
having trouble sleeping and had a major psych-type meltdown yesterday. decided to google asking if it is addictive ~ and voila ! I thank you all for the input. i am not crazy after all. or at least i am not imagining an addiction. will continue to cut-back as suggested…
I’ve been popping acetominophen for about a year now, and I don’t think I’d call it addictive, but the urges to do it are insane. It sounds harmless but it can really hurt you. While it numbs physical pain, studies have shown that it changes the way you feel pain as a whole, emotionally involved. It makes you feel flatline nothing. I took 15 200mg pills, a bottle and a half of cough syrup, two shots of vodka, got high on ketones, and slit my wrist. I passed out and woke up the next day remarkably alive. Don’t pop pills like m&ms kids.
omg I am withdrawing from extra-strength Tylenol. I started taking it because I can’t take anything else for pain; I have Crohn’s and everything affects me in the gut. Since I stopped taking it, I have terrible leg cramps at night, plus bloating, gas and abdominal pain day and night. Oddly the same symptoms I had when I developed narcotic bowel syndrome after taking hydrocodone after surgery. NO drug is safe, whether it’s prescription or OTC.
Yes , the thread is old and I don’t even know if you’ll read my reply, but here’s my store:
I have been taking oxycodone
( 10/325) for about a year to control pain in my lower back and hips. About a week and a half ago I was bumped up to oxy 15s, no acetaminophen.
I haven’t felt good for days but today the strange excruciating pains were almost identical to when I had a heart attack… and I do mean excruciating! It felt like every nerve in my back, sides, up my neck front and back, my ribs and left arm, and head were experiencing adrenaline explosions! I was ready to call rescue when I thought of the possibility of withdrawals from Tylenol. So, I took one Excedrin and the pain subsided somewhat so I took another. I was amazed and thrilled that it worked!
Just as one can have withdrawals from coffee, so too, can one have withdrawals from Tylenol!
I honestly thought I was going to die today….but I found this site and confirmed my suspension !
Thanks for all the posts !
I have been taking Tylenol PM for a little over two years now. I started taking it because all the doctors I was going to couldnt figure out what is wrong with me. I have noticed that every time I have tried to quit taking the Tylenol PM I wake up with a real bad headache that lasts all day.. I didnt take them last night and my head is hurting so bad right now and im shaking really bad and feel im going to throw up.. I just need to know how long this will last?? Im afraid to keep taking the medicine.
Does not taking acetaminophen contribute to already moderate to severe neuropathy? I have been on oxycontin30s, oxycodone10s/w acetaminophen, gabapentin and lyrica for 3 years and the 10s seem to work better than oxycontin, which seems odd to me. I started taking 1000 mgs with the oxycontin and it works better. I want off everything but pain becomes maddening almost suicidal. Any suggestions
Dear Elizabeth,
You obviously don’t understand how addiction works. To them the highest pain is being themselves. So, anything — anything that makes the brain think it is in altered state is desired and *needed. There is no need for any type of reward or “good feeling”. Only the fact that they are not themselves, even if that means they are feeling all the time sick from the substance. It is a curable disease of a mind. A defect (that can become temporary with some effort), learned or born with, that makes them terrified of just being themselves. Taking a Tylenol can create that sense of altered self and therefore fuel the addiction.
I know I am addicted to Tylenol, I used it for:
* Bad Teeth
* Back Pain
* Neck Pain
* Swelling Leg/jaw
* Bring down a temperature
I take 1000 Mg, 3 Times a day (Every 8 Hours)
I use a Smart-Phone (Android) Alarm Clock so I don’t overdose my Tylenol as it can ruin your liver. My brother’s Girlfriend told me without knowing my addition. She works for a hospital and she decides peoples fate for a “Liver Transplantation”
* Persons addicted to Drugs
* Persons addicted to Alcohol
I have chronic neck pain from cervical stenosis but no neurological symptoms.
At 80 YO I have been a fitness fanatic all my life and I have used Excedrine and aspirin-free Tylenol —- 1 of each daily for years. That is the Excedrine in the early AM and the Tylenol 8 hours later. I have never gotten complete relief; however, with the doses mentioned, I can exercise as usual. Some days I only take the AM Excedrine. So my total daily acetaminophine is well below the supposed maximum allowable. After reading these responses, I am wondering if I am addicted. I will try to taper off slowly but not being able to take NSAIDS, I wonder how much daily pain will develop.
How do you “taper off” when the migraine/headache is excruciating pain. I have only made three hours before giving in. I take two 500m four times daily. If the time is due for the next dose it wakes me out of a sound sleep. The doctor just says You must stop But how ?
I’m a teen and find myself needing to take a lot of Tylenol/acetaminophen multiple times a day. My mom doesnt know I do this and and since most people don’t know of this addiction I am scared to speak up about it. The withdrawals I get are terrible which leads me to take more. Can anyone give me tips?
Its going to be rough, but things get better. I dont know what exactly caused me to go coldturkey on Tylenol, because at one point it was my safety blanket.But ill tell you ine thing. I got tired of depending on it to make everything feel better. It doesnt fix anything it honestly makes you weaker. Every little bit of pain you mightve been able to tolerate before youd rather die then feel… so you pop a tylenol. Problem solved ? Nope. The pain will be back, and after a while it’s probably in our heads. I brung a bottle with me everywhere. I got tired of complaining every five seconds i was in pain when it seemed like everyone else dealt so much better w. pain. It becomes ur safety blanket. There are other alternatives for pain other than tylenol. Sleep is good, try breathing , epsom salt bath, tiger balm, icy hot, a massage from a friend or family member (this works magic HONESTLY) , try anything u can think of before tylenol. It literally should be a last resort at this point. Hey…. hy the time you resort to it you probably wont even be in pain anymore (this happened to me multiple times). You’ll feel powerful im the end. (also consider that chronic pain can be a cause of a underlying condition so always get a second opinion from your dr) Also, dont be ashamed!! Nobody wants to be in pain! Sorry for the late reply 😅
I’ve been taking Tylenol pm daily for several years now. It first started because I had a sever tooth ache. Couldn’t afford going to the dentist at that moment so I just took some Tylenol pm to ease the pain and help me sleep. Got the tooth problem taken care of 2 years ago, so I stopped taking the Tylenol. I got horrible headaches, body aches, I was extremely nauseous, so I took Tylenol and it all went away. Felt so much worse than any flu I’ve ever had. So I take it every day just before I go to bed. Recently, 2 days ago, I decided to stop taking it because I know it’s so bad for your liver. First day, was ok. Had a headache all day, but manageable. Second day, which is today, I had extremely lucid dreams, body aches and I was extremely nauseous. I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to take Tylenol. I feel better, but I know I have to stop! Please, if you have any advice, despite from the typical “just stop taking it.” I would extremely appreciate it! I’m 28. “Healthy.” Workout daily, drink nothing but water. But I know this is damaging my liver.
I have had a sore throat for a few days now, and I was taking Tylenol for it. I also got a vaccine in both arms and now I’ve started my period, so I took Tylenol for that too. Today, I didn’t take any Tylenol, and I still have the sore throat plus a new headache, and I want to take it. I’ve only been taking the Tylenol for about a week, max 3 500 milligram tablets a day, usually not even that. I’m a teen girl. Is it possible to get addicted in such a short time, and has that happened to me? If so, what should I do about my pain?