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Acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol or Tylenol, is a drug people use to treat mild-to-moderate pain and fever. In combination with alcohol, acetaminophen can cause side effects or severely damage the liver. This can also be the case when people who drink alcohol regularly take too much of this medication. In this article, we outline the side effects and risks of taking acetaminophen and alcohol together and give tips on how to stay safe. Is it safe to drink alcohol while taking acetaminophen Share on PinterestOliver Henze/EyeEm/Getty ImagesThe liver is responsible for breaking down acetaminophen and alcohol. Due to this, excessive consumption of both alcohol and acetaminophen can have dangerous side effects. For example, research suggests chronic alcohol consumption can worsen liver damage from acetaminophen overdose. However, most negative side effects occur due to excessive consumption of both. It is typically safe to drink a small amount of alcohol while taking this pain reliever. Why is it dangerous Acetaminophen alone can cause toxic damage to the liver, which is called acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. This toxicity is the most common cause of acute liver failure in the U.S. It accounts for around 56,000 hospital visits per year. Acetaminophen is metabolized in two ways. Firstly, the body processes around 90% of the drug via a process called glucuronidation. This process does not produce any dangerous byproducts. Secondly, the CYP2E1 liver enzyme breaks down around 5-10% of the drug. This process produces a toxin called NAPQI. In response, the liver produces an antioxidant called glutathione, which the body uses to remove the toxin before it can build up and cause liver damage. When alcohol enters the picture, it increases the activity of CYP2E1, so the body produces more of the NAPQI toxin. Alcohol also decreases glutathione production, meaning NAPQI is more likely to build up in the liver in dangerous concentrations. Side effects Taking acetaminophen at high doses or together with alcohol can cause several side effects. This risk of severe side effects may be higher for people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Possible side effects of taking acetaminophen and alcohol together include:stomach upsetbleeding and ulcersliver damagea rapid heartbeat According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, taking acetaminophen can be dangerous for people who regularly drink alcohol. AUD and acetaminophen overdose A 2016 review highlights that the risk of acetaminophen-induced liver damage is higher for individuals who have AUD and also overdose on acetaminophen. However, there is no scientific evidence that people with AUD who take the recommended dose of acetaminophen increase their risk of liver damage. Reducing the risk of liver damage Damage to the liver can impair its ability to carry out vital functions. Not only does this organ filter out toxins from the blood, but it assists with blood clotting and plays an essential role in food digestion. Around half of all acetaminophen overdoses are unintentional. They mainly occur when people take acetaminophen alongside certain opioid drugs in an attempt to relieve pain. People can reduce their risk of liver damage by taking the following precautions:taking no more than the maximum daily dose of 3,000 mg, or 650-1,000mg every 4-6 hours for adultschecking other medications to see if they contain acetaminophentaking only one acetaminophen-containing product at a time Symptoms of liver damage Acetaminophen overdose can cause acute liver damage, failure, and death in the most severe cases. The symptoms of liver damage include:jaundice, which causes yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyespain in the upper right side of the abdomen or below the ribcageswelling of the abdomennausea and vomitingexcessive sweatingappetite losstirednessconfusionunusual bruising or bleeding of the skin Alternatives to acetaminophen Popular alternatives to acetaminophen include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen. People can safely take acetaminophen and NSAIDs at the same time. NSAIDs work slightly differently from acetaminophen as they not only relieve pain but also have anti-inflammatory effects. Taking NSAIDs along with alcohol is typically safe, although side effects can include an upset stomach. Aspirin and alcohol may cause bleeding. Summary Drinking alcohol in moderation while taking acetaminophen should generally be safe as long as a person takes acetaminophen as advised and does not exceed the recommended dose. Excessive consumption of either, or both, can cause potentially severe, and even fatal, side effects. Last medically reviewed on October 5, 2022Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal DrugsPain / AnestheticsPharmacy / PharmacistPrimary Care 7 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Acetaminophen. (2022).https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/acetaminophen#section=Drug-WarningAgrawal, S., et al. (2022). Acetaminophen toxicity.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441917/Ghosh, A., et al. (2020). The role of alcohol consumption on acetaminophen-induced liver injury: Implications from a mathematical model.https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.07.07.191916v1.fullPainkillers and NSAIDs. (n.d.) https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/drugs/painkillers-and-nsaids/Can I drink alcohol if I'm taking painkillers? (2020).https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/medicines/can-i-drink-alcohol-if-i-am-taking-painkillers/Mazaleuskaya, L. L., et al. (2015). PharmGKB summary: Pathways of acetaminophen metabolism at the therapeutic versus toxic doses. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4498995/Yoon, E., et al. (2016). Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity: A comprehensive update.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4913076/FEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Alyssa Peckham, PharmD, BCPP — By Charlotte Lillis — Updated on October 5, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? 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