tylenol

Whether you reach for a Tylenol to quiet a headache or throw back an Advil after a particularly hard run, those over the counter painkillers can be a fast way to getting you on the road to feeling better. But as harmless as they may seem, it also seems like more and more, we're getting warnings about the dangers of these nonprescription drugs.

A new study has found that Advil and other NSAIDs may increase your risk for developing an irregular heartbeat, which can lead to conditions like heart failure and stroke. The study followed more than 32,000 people and found that there is a link between using NSAIDs and other anti-inflammatories and developing an irregular heartbeat. While previous studies have found a link between regular use of NSAIDs and heart disease, this study found that new users of these types of drugs were at the most risk.

Advil, of course, isn't the only OTC drug that comes with precautions. Overdosing on acetaminophen (like Tylenol) can cause serious liver damage, and even just a normal dose of acetaminophen causes liver damage in people who drink heavily (Tylenol's warning label says to not take it if you drink three or more alcoholic drinks a day). And while aspirin has amazing heart-healthy benefits, doctors warn that it can cause serious stomach bleeding and increase the risk of brain hemorrhage.

With studies still sussing out the pros and cons of these drugs, do you think twice before reaching into your medicine cabinet, or do you only take OTC painkillers occasionally?

DrSugar is in the house! This week she gives us the skinny on OTC pain medications.

Dear DrSugar,
Do the different types of over-the-counter pain relievers work better for different problems? What should I take for a headache — is aspirin better than ibuprofen? What should I take if I have a fever or the flu? Is there one that's best for dealing with swelling for twists and sprains? What about a pulled muscle? I look in my medicine cabinet and don't know what to take for what ails me. Thanks!
— Pained and Confused

This is a great question since there are so many options for over-the-counter pain relief available, making it quite difficult to keep straight which one is good for different problems! To learn more about the different OTC pain medications and which one to use for different medical problems, keep reading!

Do you know what's in your medicine cabinet? A recent report in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine found that while over-the-counter medicine use is prevalent, many people don't know much about the active ingredients in popular painkillers like Advil and Tylenol.

When asked about the difference between common pain relief brands, most of the study's participants didn't know what was in Tylenol, Advil, or Aleve, or that overdosing on Tylenol, for example, could lead to serious liver damage.

While you may not think twice about popping a few pills the day after a particularly strenuous boot camp session, the fact is that the side effects from overdosing on painkillers can be serious. In fact, acetaminophen overdose continues to be the leading cause of liver failure in the United States.

Confused about whether you should take Tylenol or Advil for a pain, or what the correct dosage is? Read on for a chart of the most common OTC painkillers on the market after the break.

A mother's worry is never done, especially when recalls for common merchandise make the nightly news. The latest products caught in the headlines are those manufactured by Tylenol. A staple in most every mother's medicine cabinet, certain lots of Children’s and Infants' Tylenol drugs are said to be contaminated with B. Cepacia, a type of bacteria that can cause pneumonia in some children. Unlike many alerts, this one is precautionary as no illnesses or injuries have been reported in relation to the detection. Without a moment's hesitation, many mums may race to their bathroom and toss the questioned goods while others roll the dice and keep it locked up for the next cold season. What's your game plan?

To see the list of products that are being recalled, just click here.

I've never been able to get a clear answer on whether Tylenol plus alcohol can harm your liver. Though acetaminophen can lead to liver damage when taken in large doses, many questions remain about its short-term dangers, particularly when combined with recreational drinking. Now, the FDA wants some answers.

The agency is meeting to determine if and how it should revise its guidelines on acetaminophen, including recommended dosage and the possibility of pulling "combination drugs" like NyQuil from shelves. Here's why:

. . . overdoses of acetaminophen have been linked to 56,000 emergency room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations and 458 deaths during the 1990s, according to the FDA, citing one study.

The agency cited another study, a 2007 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention population-based report, that estimated that acetaminophen was the likely cause of most of the estimated 1,600 acute liver failures each year.

Especially troubling are products such as NyQuil and Pamprin that aren't expressly sold as pain relievers but which contain acetaminophen. With those scary statistics, it sounds like it's high time the FDA addressed this issue. Do you worry about your acetaminophen intake?