Using Tylenol for Hangovers? Here’s Why Tylenol and Alcohol Don’t Mix

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It may seem harmless to take Tylenol after a night of drinking, but the combination of substances in the body can potentially cause irreversible damage to vital parts of your body.

Tylenol is a brand name for the generic drug acetaminophen, which is also sold under the brand name Paracetamol. You can purchase it at your local drug store to treat mild to moderate pain and fever. When combined with alcohol, acetaminophen can cause adverse side effects. The biggest risk is liver damage, which happens when a person who regularly consumes alcohol also takes Tylenol.

What Are the Risks of Mixing Tylenol and Alcohol?

Taking acetaminophen alone can cause toxic damage to the liver. When taken in excess over time, acetaminophen can cause what is known as acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity.

Because Tylenol is commonly used for everyday aches and pains, overuse is the most widespread cause of acute liver failure in the United States. Many people each year are hospitalized due to this condition.

Acetaminophen is metabolized by the body in the liver. Digestion breaks down a small portion of acetaminophen into a toxin called NAPQI. Then the liver produces an antioxidant called glutathione, which helps the body remove this toxin.

Because the liver only stores a small amount of glutathione, it can be easily overwhelmed when acetaminophen is taken in large amounts or regularly over an extended period. When the body receives more than the recommended dosage of this drug, the liver is overwhelmed with more NAPQI toxins than it can handle.

Your liver is responsible for breaking down alcohol and Tylenol. Both substances pass through the liver before their waste products are eliminated from the body.

Side Effects of Combining Alcohol and Acetaminophen

This is why taking acetaminophen with alcohol is dangerous. The combination of alcohol and acetaminophen in the body can easily overwhelm the liver, reducing the ability to properly remove toxins. This can lead to dangerous liver toxicity that can be fatal.

Side effects of taking alcohol and acetaminophen together include:

• Upset stomach
• Racing heartbeat
• Stomach ulcers that can bleed
• Liver damage and scarring

When you regularly take acetaminophen for pain, or you are dependent on alcohol, you are at a greater risk for the effects of consuming this drug in combination with alcohol.

Who Is at Risk of Mixing Tylenol and Alcohol?

One of the biggest at-risk populations for mixing alcohol and acetaminophen is those with alcohol dependence. It’s important to note that acetaminophen can be found in more than Tylenol. It’s a common ingredient in cold medication, pain relievers, and sleep aids.

Signs and symptoms of alcohol dependence include, but are not limited to:²

• Spending increased amounts of time obtaining, using, or recovering from the effects of alcohol
• Being unable to limit the amount of alcohol you drink
• Developing a tolerance to alcohol, so that you need larger amounts of alcohol to feel the same effects
• Feeling a strong urge or craving to drink
• Using alcohol in unsafe situations
•  Withdrawal symptoms when you stop consuming alcohol, such as nausea, vomiting, or headache

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You are also at a higher risk of mixing alcohol and Tylenol if you have a physical dependence on acetaminophen, as you are more likely to have acetaminophen in your system when you use alcohol.

Side Effects of Psychological Dependence on Acetaminophen

Misuse or psychological dependence on acetaminophen most often occurs if you or someone you know is dealing with chronic pain. Signs and symptoms of dependence on acetaminophen include, but are not limited to, needing acetaminophen to get through the day or experiencing physical side effects from taking acetaminophen, but continuing to take acetaminophen anyway. These side effects can include:

• Unusual bleeding in stools, gums, urine, or stools
• Dizziness
• Fast heartbeat
• Fever
• General feeling of tiredness or weakness
• Lower back or side pain
• Painful or difficult urination
• Swelling of the eyelids, face, lips, or tongue
• Chest tightness

Is There a Risk of Overdosing on Tylenol and Alcohol?

Many people in the United States each year unintentionally overdose on acetaminophen. The liver cannot function correctly when there is damage from overuse of acetaminophen in combination with alcohol.

Liver damage is dangerous since the organ is responsible for several important bodily functions. The liver detoxifies the blood, plays a role in the blood’s ability to form clots to heal wounds, and helps the body digest food.

Using alcohol with acetaminophen increases the risk and severity of overdose. Signs and symptoms of an acetaminophen overdose include but are not limited to:

• Confusion
• Appetite loss
• Unusual bruising
• Swelling of the mid-region or abdomen
• Yellowing of the skin, known as jaundice
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Repeated loose stools
• Headache
• Dark urine
• Chills
• Seizure
• Loss of consciousness
• Light-colored stools
• Tightness in the chest

How Can I Avoid Mixing Tylenol and Alcohol?

Most overdoses of acetaminophen are accidental and can be avoided. Overdose often happens when the drug is taken to relieve pain in conjunction with other substances, like alcohol. You can avoid Tylenol and alcohol interaction by doing the following:

• Do not exceed the maximum daily dose
• Do not drink any alcoholic beverages while taking Tylenol
• Take only one product that contains acetaminophen at a time
• Always check other over-the-counter medicines to see if they contain acetaminophen
• Ask your doctor before taking acetaminophen if you are currently taking any other medications
• Do not take Tylenol for more than five days in a row for acute pain
• Do not take Tylenol for more than three days in a row for an acute fever
• If pain or fever lasts longer than three to five days, call your doctor to discuss further treatment options

Alternative Pain Treatment

You can relieve pain without using Tylenol or another form of acetaminophen. Some alternatives include:

• Cold therapy, which controls swelling and inflammation, especially with acute injury
• Heat therapy, which stimulates blood flow and should be used to alleviate tightness, stiffness, or muscle spasms
• Rest and elevation if it is a limb that is affected or injured
• A warm bath or shower
• Massage therapy, including massaging the affected area yourself
• Gentle stretching and movement, such as walking or swimming, to improve mobility and reduce acute pain
• Recommendations from a chiropractor, exercise physiologist, or licensed physical therapist
• Targeted yoga poses for the affected area
• Meditation and mindfulness practices
• Acupuncture or acupressure
• Nerve blocks
• Radio wave treatment
• Electrical signal treatment

You might want to try some of these alternatives to see if your pain can be helped in a different way using other methods.

If you experience high levels of acute pain, seek medical attention. Additionally, if your pain persists at a consistent level for a week or more, tell your doctor about your symptoms.

If you or someone you know is struggling with using Tylenol or alcohol, alone or together, know that help is available. Call 800-948-8417 Sponsored to speak with an addiction treatment specialist.