Poor Choice For Pain

Acetaminophen belongs to a class of drugs called analgesics (pain relievers) and fever reducers. Ironically, the exact mechanism of action of acetaminophen is not known. It's stated that it reduces the production of prostaglandins (chemicals that cause inflammation and swelling) in the brain.
Acetaminophen is an ineffective and poor choice for short term pain relief of low back pain, knee pain, hip pain and osteoarthritis pain.

Acetaminophen is in the same class as Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Codeine, Tramadol, and Hydrocodone. Of great concern it the fact that it is the most popular pain reliever in the U.S., accounting for an estimated more than 27 billion annual doses. With more than 100,000 hospital visits a year by users, it's also the most likely to be taken inappropriately. In fact, improper use, coupled with the drug's narrow safety margin, means "a large fraction of users are close to a toxic dose in the ordinary course of use," according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Let's ignore the safety issues and look at the facts. Is acetaminophen an effective pain reliever in the first place? Not for low back pain and pain attributable to knee and/or hip osteoarthritis, conclude the authors of a recent meta-analysis.

The published review of 13 randomized trials has yielded "high quality evidence" that paracetamol (acetaminophen) does not reduce pain intensity or disability, and does not improve the quality of life, in the short term for people experiencing low back pain, and provides only "minimal, short term benefit" for people suffering from hip or knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, stating that "the small effects ... are not likely to be meaningful for clinicians or patients."

Back to the safety issues surrounding acetaminophen, which the meta-analysis did little to dilute. According to the review researchers, "high quality" evidence suggests paracetamol use results in a fourfold risk of an abnormal liver function test. Not surprising, since acetaminophen misuse (overdose) is now the most common cause of acute liver failure (exceeding all other medications combined) and the second most common cause of liver failure requiring transplantation.

In fact, the FDA has mandated that all acetaminophen containing prescription products feature a "black box" warning (the administration's strongest safety statement) noting an overdose can cause liver failure and even death; and have been urged to place similar language on OTC acetaminophen products.

Take care of your wonderful body, and it will take care of you. And, think of it this way;

"You don't need drugs. Get high on life with an overdose of you!"