Sorry its quite a read, butI have something important to ask, especially to moms. This is something I NEVER knew. Something ALOT of Healthcare aides didn't fully know. Something I heard 2 different PHARMACISTS over prescribe without even knowing. 

Growing up, when I had a headache, and I used to get migranes, I loved taking advil. Why? Cause it worked efficiently and effectively for me. But my mom, who later became a PSW then an RN, told me time and time again "stop taking advil-its so hard on your stomach that it will eventually create a hole in it... take tylenol- is better" anyone else told this? Or along the same lines? Personally, even those acetaminophen is a great pain reliever, it never worked for me. Most of the time, I'd take 3 extra strength just as I would advil. 

Now, after having kids...tylenol was a MUST have for teething, fever..you name it. Diligently keeping track of dose times as with any meds I have my children. 

So here's my question. Do you have tylenol extra strength? Or arthritis? 

Are they child proof or easy tabs? 

And are you like me where when the pain is too much, you take 3 each dose in hopes it will work faster? 

And did you know, tylenol is one of the top overdosing drugs in north America and is more toxic than fentenyl in an overdose setting?? I kid you not. In adults, the minimum toxic dose of acetaminophen as a single ingestion is 7.5 to 10 g; acute ingestion of >150 mg/kg or 12 g of acetaminophen in adults is considered a toxic dose and Acetaminophen bottle currently recommend that adults take no more than 4,000 milligrams a day, or eight extra-strength pills. Just a doubling of the maximum daily dose can be enough to kill. 

KILL...your liver can only absorb and disperse so much that drug before it can't and it toxisfies your liver. Shuts down your kidneys. Acidifys your blood. Every organ after that literally turns to MUSH...

 

My daughter was 12. She was bullied her whole life..every school..after finally finding herself and having alot of friendships, it took a single school fight, exchange of nasty words, and the fear of being alone again with no friends-she suffered with depression and anxiety, and feared abandonment.This past March, she took roughly 15 tylenol arthritis pills...650mg...easy open bottle-bless her soul,she couldn't open child proof lids. 

Tylenol was the ONLY medication I didn't have locked up in my house. Why? Because it's your #1 trusted household pain reliever, that's why. When I caught her, she told me she only took 6, maybe 8(ahe clearly lied).and after talking to a Healthcare professional I was told she would get a "really bad stomach ache" .well. she cried all night about her stomach while I said to her...yeah I bet it hurts, you'll never do that again will you? Second day, after aching and puking, she felt better. Not knowing this is normal in a fatal od setting. Third day..complete psychosis, heart failure, brain dead..I held her hand until her last breath. 

Tylenol. May cause liver damage is a complete understatement..all it takes is 2 pills over the daily max to end up this way. You have 2 hours to get your stomach flushed before the damage is irreversable. And you awaited a painful, painful death in 3 days. 

I never knew. I'm still in shock. And I will never forgive myself for not doing more- but I didn't know. If I knew better...I'd do better. I failed her. 

Her name was Grace-Lindsay Mcsweeney, and she was the love of my life. 

Tylenol has restrictions all over the world. Canada is one of the very few countries that offer acetaminophen over the counter, and in such high quantities. Sadly, the #1 product they absolutely do not have any cap restrictions on is their arthritis tylenol, which is the most deadliest. Pharmacies can always put medications in blister packs for those who struggle to open. 

If you stand with me, and my daughter, help us save the lives of those who will overdose either by accident or not. 

Get the high quantity bottles(up to 500 pills) off the market. Put acetaminophen products behind the counter and set an age limit. And for respect and human compassion..put child proof caps on all acetaminophen products. 

My daughter didn't deserve to die such a painful death. Nobody deserves to die this way. And no parent should have to deal with the painful loss such as we are going thru. 

Help us. Help those before us. And those after us. 

Please..be careful.