from Vicodin/tylenol to just tylenol

[Rezee]

I had brain tumor surgery 7 months ago and started with the Vicodin/Tylenol daily and now just take Tylenol and Neurontin daily. How bad is it to take Tylenol daily for 7 months ? Can this cause liver damage?

[sandee1818]

Anytime you take tylenol for an extended period of time it will affect your liver. I would definitely ask your doctor to prescribe you something or recommend something without the tylenol. I would also ask to have a liver function test to see how your doing and then switch to something that has no tylenol.

[Tuckamore]

Hello Rezee,

I assume you are taking acetaminophen {Tylenol Brand Name} for pain. There are other agents that are available for minor pain. If you do not have liver problems, the adult maximum dose of acetaminophen is 4000 milligrams per day. Are you are this dose? If you take more than the maximum daily amount, it may cause serious, possibly fatal liver disease. Watch for any of the following symptoms of liver damage: severe nausea, yellowing eyes or skin, dark urine, stomach pain, extreme fatigue.

Many physicians feel that a small doses of tylenol has less possibility of complications or side effects than other pain relievers. It may be possible that due to your surgery or the other medical considerations your physicians feels acetaminophen is the best choice at this time. Many NSAID's, which acetaminophen is not, come with blood thinning properties or present possible serious GI issues.

I take acetaminophen daily and have for some years. I have other medical issues that make the use of NSAID's a larger threat to my general health than acetaminophen (tylenol).  So check with your physician. If he sees no reason why you could not take some IB or Aspirin than that may be a better choice for you.

Best of luck to you. Please let us know how you are doing. We will look forward to your updates.