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(NaturalNews) -- Healthy adults who took the maximum dose of Tylenol for two weeks were found to have liver damage, according to a study appearing in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Researchers instructed 106 study participants to take 4 grams of Tylenol (eight extra-strength tablets) a day for two weeks, with some taking only Tylenol, and some taking Tylenol combined with an opioid painkiller. The rest of the participants were given a placebo.

Nearly 40 percent of the participants taking Tylenol or the Tylenol/opioid combination displayed abnormal liver test results that indicated liver damage, while those taking the placebo showed no damage.

The study's co-author, Dr. Neil Kaplowitz of the University of Southern California said, "I would urge the public not to exceed 4 grams a day. This is a drug that has a rather narrow safety window." Kaplowitz added that heavy drinkers should not exceed 2 grams a day.

Tylenol maker McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals said it had conducted its own research that tracked high-dose Tylenol users over longer periods than the Kaplowitz study, and found that its product did not lead to liver disease.

Kaplowitz and co-author Dr. Paul Watkins of the University of North Carolina were hired by Purdue Pharma, which makes the prescription painkiller OxyContin, to see why people testing a drug containing acetaminophen and the opiate hydrocodone were having abnormal liver tests. Contrary to the researchers' theories, they found that acetaminophen was the culprit.

Acetaminophen is Americans' over-the-counter painkiller of choice. Acetaminophen overdose is also the leading cause of acute liver failure.

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Related Articles: • Tylenol introduces candy-like pain medication with strong minty taste and instant cooling effect • Long-term use of Tylenol (acetaminophen) found to cause kidney damage, says new study • FDA Admits Drug in Tylenol and Excedrin is Main Cause of Liver Failure in U.S.	Take Action: Support NaturalNews.com Email this article to a friend Share this article on: NewsVine | digg | del.icio.us Permalink to this article: http://www.NaturalNews.com/019555_Tylenol_liver_damage_acetaminophen.html Reprinting this article: Non-commercial use OK, cite NaturalNews.com with clickable link. Embed article link: (copy HTML code below): <a href = "http://www.NaturalNews.com/019555_Tylenol_liver_damage_acetaminophen.html">Tylenol found to cause liver damage even in small doses</a>