I know that an overdose of tylenol may cause acute liver failure, but is it possible for the liver to adjust?...e.g. if someone abuses Vicodin to the point that he/she is taking more than 4 grams a day, or 4 grams in a short period of time (within 6 hours).....
2007-06-22 16:53:29 · 7 answers · asked by red femme 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
Most probably not. Acetaminophen is metabolized in the liver and its toxic effects are due to minor alkylating metabolite through an enzyme produced during the metabolism process. The metabolites are responsible for it s toxicity than the drug itself. It simply means, the more level of drugs to be metabolised, the more enzyme will be produced that will build up metabolites which wil cause the toxicity. For that, taking more than 4 grams
a day or taken in a short time would deplete the body chemical needed to detoxify the high level of metabolites that will end up damaging the liver. At the start, the body may be able to resolve the toxicity and the person generaly feels well but nevertheless, hepatic failure may develop.
2007-06-22 18:36:09 · answer #1 · answered by ♥ lani s 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. You'll run out of glutathione at some point, and you're screwed. Note that chronic toxicity is not nearly so well understood as acute toxicity. Acute toxicity is unlikely at levels below 12 or 15 grams in an adult, depending on weight, but lower levels chronically can cause damage. You just don't know where, exactly, hence the 4 gram per day recommendation as maximum.
2007-06-23 04:53:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm no doctor, but if you are taking that much medicine then you need some help. I don't think that a liver can build up a tolerance to Tylenol or Vicodin. You need to go to your doctor and tell him/her your concerns, you may need to get some blood work done.
2007-06-22 23:59:36 · answer #3 · answered by Amanda K 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no, the liver never "adjusts" to such abuse. it will though shut down slowly and begin to shut down other vital organs because of then need to filter so much medication, what builds tolerance is the chemicals in your brain that are so extremly numbed by all of the medication they have recived they are basically fried and now require higher doses to work or just dont work at all. but thats besides the point, the answer is no, no, no you liver will never just become accustomed to such high levels of medication on a continuous basis.
2007-06-23 00:04:17 · answer #4 · answered by centurygirly 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It will eventually get damaged after a prolonged exposure to that chemical.
2007-06-23 03:01:45 · answer #5 · answered by einsteinliam2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the context in which you are asking this question, tolerance to acetominophen toxicity is not very likely to be protective.
2007-06-23 00:02:00 · answer #6 · answered by XOUT 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
nope -it just means more liver damage.
2007-06-23 00:57:06 · answer #7 · answered by KitKat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋