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Comment by nilamo | Hacker News Reader

Yes? Those definitely were words I used to mock the article/RFK... Do you have anything to add about toxic levels of acetaminophen?

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Like most medications - follow the instructions on the bottle and you’ll be fine. No need to satanize it.

Most medications have a buffer, so if you accidentally take an extra dose (instead of just 2 pills every 6 hours, but no more than 6 in a 48 hour period). Acetaminophen does not have that buffer. Even just slightly over the dosing recommendations can be lethal, and for a drug that's in hundreds of products, that's terrifying. Imo you're being exceptionally careless for one of the most dangerous OTC drugs we have available.

How is following the instructions being “exceptionally careless”?

It’s like using bleach to whiten clothes. The bottle says “do not drink”. I don’t drink it, I’m fine. If I misuse it, I’m toast, like with any other myriad household products that can kill you if you use them not as directed.

Follow the instructions for Tylenol. And for a cough syrup. Add in Model or Nyquil. 6 hours go by, you take a second dose of each, and two days later your liver fails.

Which product's instructions did you fail to follow?

I didn’t — checked the labels for all medications I take, verified the medicinal ingredients and know not to double up on the acetaminophen.

I actually prefer cough syrups that don’t have acetaminophen precisely for that reason.

Sorry but being unable to follow instructions is a you problem not a me problem. My point stands: fail to follow instructions for potentially lethal everyday chemicals and you will end up dead. It’s not exclusive to Tylenol.

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