When your child is in pain or has a fever, do NOT use Tylenol. Tylenol, the brand name for acetaminophen, is a popular pain reliever, and it’s contained in many medications. Unfortunately, this is a drug that’s proven to be harmful to our health and especially dangerous for children.
The results of a six year study in the journal, Hepatology, point out the real dangers associated with Tylenol use. Researchers found that 42% of 662 cases of acute liver failure in 22 clinical settings were caused by acetaminophen poisoning, and 29% of the individuals suffering from acetaminophen toxicity died.
An over-reliance on Tylenol and overdosing with acetaminophen causes 56,000 emergency room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations and 458 deaths annually according to an article at MedScape.com.
Accidental overdosing happens when people exceed recommended dosages. Since it’s available over the counter, people believe Tylenol is “safe,” and taking a few extra can’t hurt. At the same time, a variety of medications contain acetaminophen, so it’s easy to take more than you’re realizing unintentionally. Yet even when it’s taken at the “correct” dosage, Tylenol causes changes in liver function in some people.
Tylenol is even more dangerous to kids than adults as their livers are smaller and they’re more susceptible to acetaminophen poisoning. Parents see pediatricians prescribe Tylenol regularly for fevers and other ailments, plus children’s Tylenol products are for sale at pharmacies everywhere. Yet the risks of giving children Tylenol aren’t outlined on packages, and it’s incredibly easy for parents to accidentally give their kids too high of a dose.
Giving children Tylenol is associated with more than potential liver problems or liver failure. Children who are given acetaminophen frequently are susceptible to an increase in allergic diseases including asthma, eczema and seasonal allergies. Several studies have also shown that kids who are given Tylenol after vaccinations are at an increased risk for developing behavioral and learning disorders.
Tylenol is now considered so potentially hazardous to our health, the FDA is currently considering restricting acetaminophen based on the recommendations of a health advisory committee. Lowering dosages, eliminating certain drugs that combine acetaminophen with other controlled medications, and placing a black box warning on prescription acetaminophen products’ labels are some of the restrictions being considered.
Parents who choose to rely on Tylenol for their children’s pain relief are putting their health at risk unnecessarily. There are safe, effective treatment options for fever and typical childhood aches and pains, including safe, natural remedies. Instead of putting your child’s health at risk in the name of making her feel better, consult with a holistic health care practitioner to discuss treatments that stimulate healing.
I’m struggling to find something to replace tylenol. I have a 9 month old and she’s only had tylenol when I can’t find any other solution, do you have any suggestions on something else to use?? What about fevers? any suggestions would be appreciated! btw, i love this blog!
Hi Jacqueline – Glad you’re enjoying the blog! Regarding pain relievers, I use Ibuprofen very sparingly and only when one of my children is in so much pain they can’t rest. A great home remedy for the discomfort of fevers is a lemon water soak for the feet. Basically, you squeeze lemons into hot water, wring out, wrap the child’s feet with the cloths and top with socks. This will help reduce the pain but allow the fever to run it’s course. Most fevers are functional, and shouldn’t be intentionally reduced.
Very interesting article about Tylenol. I do have a question. Unfortunately, when my daughter was 7 she developed Idiopathic Angioedema. She is now unable to tolerate any other pain relievers, no Motrin, NSAID’s, etc. As far as I know, Tylenol is the only thing I can give her for pain relief when she swells. Do you have any suggestions on a pain reliever I could try with her?
I don’t know completely if this works but I’ve heard that ginger is very helpful in reducing inflammation. Maybe see if this works? You would have to find a way she could take it.
What about for teething? When they can’t sleep due to it? Do you use ibuprofen? Any other suggestions? I have a 7 months old who’s going through the throws of teething and having such a hard time!
Try Hyland’s teething tablets, an amber necklace, frozen spoons or washcloths, and lots of mama milk!
To further educate and or help your followers/readers, next time you could include some of those safe, effective treatment options you speak of in the last paragraph.
Good point Kayla. I will add links to more recent posts at the bottom now. Thanks.
Liver Failure
Liver failure results in the reduced capability of the liver to detoxify the blood of drugs and other toxins. Ibuprofen can exacerbate liver failure and its associated signs and symptoms. Jaundice is the inability of the liver to remove bilirubin from the blood resulting in the yellowing of the skin and eye sclerae. Nausea and vomiting are two side effects that may also occur. The liver works with the kidneys to remove excess fluid from the body, so decreased liver function can lead to edema in the legs
I would have to say that ANY over the counter pain reliever/fever reducer needs to be taken seriously. Tylenol is no more dangerous than Ibuprofen when taken at a different dosage than the label or doctor reccomends. Please, please do not create your own dosage chart…follow the reccomendations!
Read more: Dangerous Side Effects of Ibuprofen in Children | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5047465_dangerous-side-effects-ibuprofen-children.html#ixzz2MjYr50vp
I don’t use Tylenol for my DD unless she is teething so severely that she wakes several times a night (She’s 18 months) and then, I only put a tiny little bit on my finger and rub it on her gums. We use Hyland’s Teething Tablets for day and night when she’s having problems and have a lot of success with them, as well as the Nuby Nibbler with ice cubes in it for the daytime, but there are times that her teething pain is so awful that only the tylenol on her gums helps her. Can you help me find an alternate solution that we can use (especially in the nighttime) to help her? I don’t really want to use it, but I hate to see her in pain…
My son is about to have his 2nd major surgery and the hospital will most likely give him T3 or Tylenol with codeine. The only other 2 times he has received Tylenol was for surgical procedures, one being neurosurgery in which he got morphine for 3 days, then the Tylenol with codeine, and weaned down to plain Tylenol over a period of 2-3 weeks. This second major surgery is for his cleft palate repair. Ibuprofen was not allowed after his neuro surgery and won’t be allowed after this one either. Major surgeries are the only time I allow Tylenol for either of my boys. I’m not sure that in these special circumstances that anything else will work to cut through the pain, but I would love to know what natural options might work for post-op pain as I would prefer not to use Tylenol, but I also have to keep my child’s pain level down to a point where he will eat and drink and his breathing not become irradic or his heart-rate become tachy. When he did have the pain meds for his neuro surgery, we were able to keep him comfortable on half of the allowable doses and we were also able to stretch doses out more than the every 2 hours that were prescribed.
Jenny – I understand your concern about your son’s surgery and in medicine there is a time and a place for many things that should not be relied upon or overused in day to day life.
Acetaminophen is used for post surgical procedures instead of Ibuprofen. Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that should not be used 1 week prior to and 1 week after most surgical procedure as it can affect the platelet function in your blood and affect the ability of the blood to clot. Hope that helps and sets your mind at ease.