Kids & Acetaminophen

For years I have heard conversations around the idea that there was some danger in taking acetaminophen, especially with certain kids and at certain times. I remember the day my son got his oral expander in; the orthodontist office was surprised when I said, “no I have not given him any pain meds prior.” They offered to give him some before they started. Before I knew there was any danger to Tylenol, I would always give it to my kids prior to any doctors visit or any procedure where I thought pain might be involved. 

            The first thing that had come across my path was the idea that when taking Tylenol there is the risk of becoming nutrient deficient, especially in glutathione as well as sulfur. Both are super important in detoxing.  According to Very Well Health, “Glutathione is an antioxidant, a molecule that helps fight free radicals.” It is made in the liver and helps with breaking down nutrients, helps regulate the immune system, and protects against oxidant stress. It’s a powerful antioxidant that helps so many processes of the body. It would seem to be reasonable that taking medicine at a time of stress and procedures, where you need all the glutathione support your body has, that taking a medication that depletes your child’s body of that exact nutrient could have negative effects.

Recently I came across two studies that was done, which compared the link between moms who took Tylenol while pregnant and the increase likelihood that their child would be later diagnosed with ADHD. Their conclusion, “The findings that ADHD and related brain phenotypes are associated with prenatal acetaminophen exposure measured directly in meconium suggest that the safety of the drug’s use during pregnancy should be reevaluated.” The other study shows how this can be a contributing factor in kids with asthma. 

This re-sparked the questions in my mind what else is said about our children taking Tylenol and are the risks worth it? 

Mayo Clinic talks about how while yes, they believe it is safe, there are serious precaution around using it. I am not sure about other parents, but it was not something I remember being taught any caution around acetaminophen. I was strongly encouraged to give my kids a dose before well visits, where they would receive vaccines, while teething, or before anything that might cause pain. Yet there is so much information on the dangers of not taking the right amount, taking the wrong formulation, and the dangers that can happen quickly when your child takes to much. Not to mention the concerns around the flavoring and the coloring of many pain meds. This is a different conversation all together. Again we are giving our kids a substance, where they need their liver to help detox the negative ingredients, that is actually decreasing their ability to get it out of their body properly. This puts a lot of stress on their livers. 
“Too much acetaminophen can cause stomach irritation within hours and liver damage within a few days” “responsible for nearly 500 deaths annually in the United States (US) alone, as well as 100,000 calls to US Poison Control Centers, 50,000 emergency room visits and 10,000 hospitalizations per year”

There was a time when my daughter drank a whole bottle of kids Tylenol. I was told to watch her and take her to the ER if she seemed to be acting unusual in any way. I was blown away by the fact that my two-year-old could reach and open the “child’s proof” bottle. 

Again, this leads me to question, if too much has the potential for this much damage, does the pros outweigh the cons?

For years medical providers and parents have passed out Tylenol like candy, to help with pain and fevers. Are there other options that we could give our kids to achieve the same results without the potential dangers?

o   Topicals – Castor oil packs, essential oil blends for pain. Essential oil blends for fevers. Warm (not hot) Epsom salt baths.

o   Homoeopathic remedies for fevers: Lemon Balm, Belladonna

o   Hydration for fevers. Lots of water, bone broth, minerals, etc. to make sure you are supporting hydration. 

Just to name a few. Fevers & pain can be addressed in ways that do not create any danger. 

In acute situations there are great options. If your finding your child needs pain meds or has a fever pretty consistently, it might benefit you and your child to address whats truly going on. Or maybe they are getting sick constantly. Get to the root cause before just band-aiding the problem,

Resources:
https://www.verywellhealth.com/benefits-of-glutathione-89457

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29460795/

https://www.invitehealth.com/drug-induced-nutrient-depletion.html

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2770802

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/in-depth/acetaminophen/art-20046721

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28734939/

https://childrenshealthdefense.org/news/acetaminophen-not-worth-the-risk/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29460795/