Written by Karen J. Smith
50,000,000 Americans reach for some form of relief each week, in the form of acetaminophen (most commonly known as Tylenol). Maybe this includes you or someone you know?
Imagine feeling unwell and taking this over-the-counter medication designed to make you feel better, you don’t, so you take more, eventually feeling so unwell that you decide you need to go to the ER. This is Catie’s Story.
Catie lost her life to an unintended overdose or poisoning from Tylenol. She ended up with acute liver failure, in an induced coma on multi-organ life support and on the top of the liver transplant list at a top NYC hospital. She died just 3 days after reporting to her local emergency room due to pain in her upper abdomen and vomiting. The day prior she felt fine. And her story isn’t unique. Hundreds die each year.
Catie’s Cause was born out of a desire to raise awareness while combatting heartache. Catie lived a beautiful life, and we know she would want others to be aware of what happened to her.
Catie’s Cause focuses on real documented risks associated with acetaminophen while providing wellness-based information that can lead to a reduced use of over-the-counter pain medications.
How Catie’s Cause Raises Awareness (check our website for sources https://catiescause.org)
- Social Media: @catiescause on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest
- Public & Private Appearances and Podcasts, to schedule us: karen@catiescause.org
- Free Resources for download and use by the public
- Coasters in bars where many young adults are present
- Print materials offered to Pharmacies, Doctors and more!
What Are the Real Risks of Acetaminophen?
- The FDA requires a black box warning, this means acetaminophen can lead to severe injury or death.
- Only 25% of us read and follow medication safety warnings, putting 75% of us at risk for injury or death if medication is taken incorrectly or misused.
- Some are more vulnerable than others: young adults, the elderly, young children, those with dental pain that persists and those with limited access to medical care.
- Acetaminophen poisoning creeps up on you over a period of time but can also happen quite suddenly, so be mindful not to overuse it.
- Don’t Double Dose: Never use more than one medication at a time with acetaminophen, for example, Tylenol and Nyquil, or Nyquil and Midol. Acetaminophen is in over 600 medications.
- Never drink and take acetaminophen: Many young adults and college students report taking Tylenol before they go out for a night of drinking. They are immediately putting their liver into double jeopardy due to the way the liver processes alcohol and acetaminophen.
- Follow the package warnings: for example, acetaminophen is not intended for chronic pain, should not be given for more than three days for fever and can also be a problem if not eating due to illness.
- Always consult a doctor before using any medication, even over the counter medication. This pertains to you and those you assist with medical care.
- Look for more natural ways to mitigate and manage pain.
- Always keep track of medication administration, acetaminophen has a small margin of error in dosing and little ones are especially at risk when unwell as parents often reach for pain and fever relief. Access a free medication tracker on our website under resources.
- Be mindful that all medications can be poisonous, so keep them up and out of the reach of children, this includes brightly colored liquid acetaminophen which children can be drawn to.
Top Tips to Mitigate and Manage Pain
- Follow our social media; tips are provided regularly: @catiescause on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest
- Hydrate! Many headaches are mitigated by hydration.
- Become your own best self-advocate. Keep a pain journal and consult a doctor. Pain can be manageable in other ways or have a root cause you’re missing.
- Live a healthy lifestyle including a diet that supports liver function and regular exercise which is known to reduce pain, even arthritis related pain.
- Educate yourself about the body’s natural mechanisms to fight infection such as fever. Learn more about current views on fever and its purpose.
- Consider pain relief through chiropractic, acupuncture, acupressure, meditation, mindfulness and less risk-based approaches to pain.
