According to new research, side effects of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol and other prescription and over-the-counter painkillers, may be linked to other serious health consequences, in addition to an increased risk of liver failure. In the study, published in the medical journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, researchers from the United Kingdom warn that acetaminophen users may be at risk for heart problems, intestinal injury, kidney damage and death. If you took Tylenol in the past, and you have since been diagnosed with kidney damage or another serious injury, our consumer advocates at the Consumer Justice Foundation can help put you in touch with a reputable attorney who has experience handling Tylenol injury claims.
Acetaminophen is the most widely used pain reliever in the world, and most people believe the medication to be safe and without side effects. However, in recent years, serious concerns have been raised about the safety of acetaminophen, and research has found a link between the use of acetaminophen and potentially life-threatening side effects, like liver injury and liver failure resulting in the need for a liver transplant. Acetaminophen has also been linked to dangerous skin reactions, like Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), a potentially deadly condition characterized by a painful body-wide rash and the separation and shedding of the top layer of affected skin.
This latest study was conducted by researchers from the Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, who looked at eight different studies that contained data on acetaminophen side effects, searching for more information about adverse events associated with acetaminophen treatment. According to their findings, the researchers found evidence in the studies of a dose-related connection between acetaminophen and heart problems, gastrointestinal injuries, kidney damage and death. In their report, the researchers noted that, the more acetaminophen the study participants took, the more likely they were to suffer from heart attacks, strokes, hypertension and gastrointestinal hemorrhages.
Acetaminophen-containing medications like Tylenol are used by millions of Americans to relieve pain, despite the fact that the FDA has identified acetaminophen as a leading cause for liver injury and liver failure. In fact, the FDA has reported that Tylenol and other acetaminophen drugs are responsible for more than 50,000 emergency room visits every year, including 25,000 hospitalizations and 450 deaths. If you or a loved one has been adversely affected by side effects of Tylenol or another potentially dangerous pharmaceutical drug, contact an experienced Tylenol lawyer today for legal help. You may have grounds to file a Tylenol lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, in order to seek fair and timely reimbursement for your injuries.
[box type=”note” align=”aligncenter” ]Source: http://ard.bmj.com/content/early/2015/02/09/annrheumdis-2014-206914.full[/box]
