Tylenol and Hangovers: A Dangerous Mix?

Acetaminophen -- the active ingredient in Tylenol -- is bad news for your liver if you take too much of it. The same is true for alcohol. So should you avoid popping Tylenol to take the edge off the morning-after hangover? Probably yes -- although the biology behind how the two substances interact is more complex than you might imagine.
UPDATED VERSION!
(Previous version contained a frustrating error - for which we apologize profusely!)
FURTHER RESOURCES
Medline Plus: Trusted Health Information for You. Acetaminophen. U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health. AHFS Consumer Medication Information. Revised: 15 August 2013. Accessed online: 27 September 2013. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/dr...
FDA information on acetaminophen toxicity: www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/S...
Mayo Clinic: Acetaminophen and Children: Why Dose Matters: www.mayoclinic.com/health/acet...
Pro Publica report on acetaminophen risks: www.propublica.org/article/tyl...
L.E. Schmidt, K Dalhoff, H.E. Poulson. Acute versus chronic alcohol consumption in acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. Hepatology (32) 2002; p.876-882. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11...
F. Yang, D. A. Beard. Thermodynamically based profiling of drug metabolism and drug-drug metabolic interactions: A case study of acetaminophen and ethanol toxic interactions. Biophysical Chemistry, 120 (2) p. 121-134. 20 March 2006. Accessed online: 27 September 2013. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bpc.2005....
P. Zhao, T.K. Kalhourn, J.T. Slattery. Selective mitochondrial glutathione depletion by ethanol enhances acetaminophen toxicity in rats. Hepatology (36); p. 326-335. 2002.
K. Thummel, et al. Ethanol and production of hepatotoxic metabolite of acetaminophen in healthy adults. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (2000) 67; p. 591-599. dx.doi.org/10.1067/mcp.2000.10...
THIS WEEK'S RISK BITES TEAM:
Producer: Andrew Maynard
Research Director: David Faulkner
Background Research: Alyssa berry
Risk Bites is your guide to making sense of risk. We cover everything from understanding and balancing the risks and benefits of everyday products, to health science more broadly, to the potential impacts of emerging technologies, to making sense of risk perception. If you enjoy our videos, please subscribe, and spread the word!

[@13selme]

will have a pharmacology and toxicology exam tomorrow about the acetaminophen metabolism in our liver. thank you for making it easier to understand! :D

[@kevinfacts5200]

Happened to me. Paracetamol is bad for hangovers... Liver damage I got, but it went away luckily after stopping drinking for a month. Never took paracetamol ever again.

[@christianrobles5366]

THANK YOU SO MUCH

[@1joshjosh1]

As soon as I discovered ibuprofen I never thought about acetaminophen ever again.
Especially for hangovers.

[@MamaWhit87]

this is so cool

[@CatalunaLilith]

Mostly this is just scary this newly-legal potential drinker from drinking at all

[@1joshjosh1]

All I heard is if you're not a regular drinker this happened so that's why I'm a regular drinker!!
I knew there was a benefit!!!
🍻🍺

[@sapling1199]

Had 2 tylenol extra strength (1000mg) about 12 hours ago. Can I drink alcohol now?

[@myflymkultra268]

It's a hell of a time!

[@melvinmerkelhopper5752]

I just took one Tylenol PM to deal with neck poain.
I am about to have a few drinks.
Wish me luck!
I will let you know what happened.

[@eze5403]

You good?

[@melvinmerkelhopper5752]

@@eze5403 Yeah I am fine.
I just got paranoid.

[@eze5403]

@@melvinmerkelhopper5752 same for me I was hangover and took Tylenol without thinking and when I started seeing things about liver damage I got paranoid and felt even worse

[@melvinmerkelhopper5752]

@@eze5403 Now I have to take muscle relaxants and can not drink at al tho!

[@eze5403]

@@melvinmerkelhopper5752 wait so you did get sick?

[@directormark3963]

Hi my name is Mark From Philippines Can you Answer my question what if When you drink a lot of Alcohol And Take it Or mix it Anti Inflammatory medicines like advil in Alcohol you drink What Happens next Can be Consider go into Death Or into Die Because in this procedure

[@paradoxxd7355]

What about Advil cause I drank a lot and 7 or 8hours later I took 2 Advil’s

[@robertomoreno5526]

So how did it work out for you
Because I just took 2 Advils myself after heavy drinking I'm on a hangover

[@kurooitami]

Or live with it.

[@ICM0n3y]

Ease back on the ethanol? You lost me...

[@bonitoflakes_x]

I've Taken 500gm Of Tylenol Today And Will Have A Drink After 3hrs, Is It Okay? I Haven't Consumed Any Medicine In The Past Few Weeks Until Today And I've Drank Alcohol 6 Days Ago

[@shelleycharlesworth5177]

I don't know and am wondering about this myself. If I have a drink at 1pm -with lunch- can I take one Tylenol
PM at 9 pm to help myself sleep?

[@alambikkopatafruskj5525]

It's ok.

[@ashlyngallagher5325]

damn.. im gonna die

[@ruchshanewilliamson5697]

Did you die?

[@ralphfurley404]

Must have no answer

[@ralphfurley404]

Rest in peace

[@ruchshanewilliamson5697]

@@ralphfurley404 she'll respawn we need more ppl when drafting begins

[@alistairproductions]

RIP

[@Mad_Elf_0]

And yet you didn't correct the spelling mistake at 0:19 (WITLESS, not "whitless")!