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

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.

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!

[selme]

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

[joshjosh]

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

[kevinfacts]

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.

[CatalunaLilith]

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

[joshjosh]

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!!!
🍻🍺

[melvinmerkelhopper]

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.

[paradoxxd]

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

[directormark]

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

[sapling]

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

[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

[ICMny]

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

[Mad_Elf_]

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