Q: My daily headaches have cleared up since I began taking six tablets of acetaminophen (Tylenol) every day. Should I keep looking for a nutritional solution?
A: In this time of greatly improved medical expertise, no one needs to live in pain. However, you should certainly be aware of the cost to your body of the regular use of any pain reliever and the alternatives to prescription and over-the-counter pain-relief medicines.
Some practitioners recommend limiting acetaminophen intake to four grams (eight tablets) per day. However, some toxicologists, who know firsthand the effects of acetaminophen overdose, take a more measured approach, recommending a limit of two grams per day. You should also be aware that many pain relievers other than Tylenol contain acetaminophen, and you should inform your physician of the amount of Tylenol you are taking, so he will not accidentally exceed your limit. Familiarize yourself with those products (both prescription and over-the-counter) that include acetaminophen in their list of ingredients.
Besides the possibility of overdose, several other potential problems with acetaminophen exist. Heavy use of acetaminophen among people with arthritis, for example, is associated with an increased risk of kidney and bladder cancer. About 4% of the population uses large amounts of acetaminophen regularly, and that segment has about a twofold increase in kidney cancer, which is otherwise a rare disease.
Combining acetaminophen with alcohol can be fatal. Both impair liver function, and the two together are much harder on the liver than either one is alone.
If you choose to continue taking acetaminophen, the nutrient that seems most protective is N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC). There would be no harm in taking 1,000-1,500 milligrams a day for as long as you continue to use acetaminophen regularly. NAC specifically protects against the problems associated with acetaminophen, along with other toxic chemicals of many sorts. NAC can also be used as an ongoing “liver detox” procedure. Vitamin C and vitamin E (2,000 mg per day and 200 IU per day, respectively) should be included in your arsenal of protective nutrients. S-Adenosylmethionine is another, but at 600-800 mg per day it is a rather expensive supporter of liver function.
Finally, you should explore the root cause of your headaches. Look for offending foods (milk was found to be a trigger for headaches in about 80% of headache sufferers). It is necessary to avoid a food completely for about a week to really be sure if it is safe or not. If you have a headache within a few hours of consuming any food for the first time after you’ve gone a week without it, that food is highly suspect and should be avoided. Sometimes bright light, especially if you are deficient in riboflavin (vitamin B-2), will cause a headache. You should also consider the possibility of chronic viral infection, “seasonal” allergies for every season of the year, spinal misalignment, blood sugar problems, or any of dozens of other reasons for headache. You may be consuming too much caffeine, artificial sweetener, or alcohol. Take control of your circumstances; be proactive; learn about your body and respect it!
This article appears in May 11 • 2001.