The Popular Headache Remedy That Can Land You In The Emergency Room. When you've got a headache or other pain, you may reach for aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen. But here's something you should know: Acetaminophen can cause serious liver damage. In fact, some 26,000 people per year are hospitalized for acetaminophen-related liver failure. And 74% of those people are women. Getting acetaminophen poisoning is a lot easier then you might think. First of all, women's bodies break down the drug very slowly. second, drinking wine or other alcohol further interferes with this breakdown. Third, many people unwittingly take a lot more acetaminophen then they realize. Reason: It's an ingredient in more than 100 different over-the-counter remedies. These include remedies for allergies, cold and flu, insomnia, and more. To protect yourself: Limit yourself to 4,000 milligrams of acetaminophen per day. Read labels carefully to make sure you're not unintentionally taking the drug in other remedies. And avoid alcohol while taking the drug.
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