The Hidden Dangers Of Taking Tylenol If You're Over 50

As soon as a headache or fever starts, many people reach into the medicine cabinet for Tylenol or the generic acetaminophen. Unlike aspirin or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like Advil or Aleve, Tylenol doesn't reduce inflammation. That might seem like a drawback, but acetaminophen doesn't cause the potential damage to the stomach lining that can come with taking aspirin or an NSAID. That's why Tylenol is recommended for older adults.

A regular strength tablet of Tylenol has 325 milligrams, and a typical dose is two tablets every 4 to 6 hours. Over 24 hours, it's not recommended for you to take more than 10 tablets, which is about five doses for a total of 3,250 milligrams. Because acetaminophen is also found in some types of cold, sinus, and sleep medicines, you could easily consume too much acetaminophen without knowing it. If you take more than 4,000 milligrams of acetaminophen, you could put yourself at risk for liver damage. This is more of a concern for older adults because it can take longer for acetaminophen to clear the body.

Your body processes drugs more slowly as you age

Taking 4,000 milligrams of Tylenol a day can cause liver toxicity in some older adults. A 2016 article in Age and Ageing presented two case studies where older patients who were admitted to the hospital were given 4,000 milligrams of acetaminophen a day. Both experienced acute liver injury, and one of the women died. The researchers suggested that the maximum dose for older adults be lowered to 2,600 milligrams a day.

As you age, your liver becomes less efficient at clearing drugs from your body, according to a 2011 article in Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research. The liver also has more trouble removing toxic substances from the body, and the buildup of toxins can lead to oxidative stress and inflammation. Taking too much Tylenol can cause liver damage when its toxic byproduct overwhelms the liver. Older adults who might be taking other medications or don't get adequate nutrition could be more susceptible to liver injury.

Taking too much Tylenol can be accidental

Older adults might take Tylenol for pain after an injury, but they might also take a cold medicine with acetaminophen. Prescription drugs such as Midrin, Vicodin, and Percocet also have acetaminophen. Someone who is used to taking regular strength Tylenol five times a day could take too much acetaminophen if they unknowingly take the 500-milligram Extra-Strength Tylenol. That would result in 5,000 milligrams of acetaminophen a day.

You could also worsen your liver if you regularly drink alcohol while taking Tylenol. The package warning on Tylenol says not to drink three or more alcoholic beverages a day if you're taking Tylenol. However, a 2000 article in American Family Physician said that older adults who regularly drink alcohol could be producing more toxic metabolites in their liver and overwhelm their system. Harvard Medical School advises no more than two drinks a day for men and one per day for women if you're taking acetaminophen.