Tylenol 2 and 3- Long-term dosage

[clay70]

I suffer from trigger point pain in my hip area. I have tried every therapy but noting has worked. I even have tried injections of Botox A. Now I am taking tylenol 2s and 3s. I will retire from the post office in 17 yrs. I take one tylenol 2 and one tylenol 3 once a day four times per week as i find it is the perfect dosage to get me through the week. I would like to know: If i take this dosage for 17 years how might it affect my liver? as well, by taking this dosage, how long before i build up a tolerance to it causing me to have to up my dosage? Lastly, r there any alternative pain meds that won't affect my liver over the long run? I have tried anti-inflammatories like torydol and naprisin to no effect. only tylenol seems to help.
thanks

[Dr. Chan Lowe]

Hello Clay70,

These doses of tylenol are very unlikely to do any damage to the liver. The recommendation is not to exceed 4 grams of tylenol per day. The doses you are taking are far from this.

The codeine part is also pretty small so it is less likely for you to develop tolerance to this. If you find that you are not getting as much effect over the years it may be that you are becoming tolerant but I don't think this is likely to happen. Also, at this doses, it is unlikely for you to develop any significant dependence on the codeine.

Other options besides tylenol basically include ibuprofen and the other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. There are some ibuprofen/narcotic combinations but they tend to be a fair amount stronger than tylenol 3. If needed, your doctor can discuss these with you.

Best wishes.

[John32122]

hi
I also have a tylenol question, if you're not too busy. after searching the web for a couple of hours about acetominephin, i did see one reference to 'some racial groups that were more likely to suffer liver damage'... but it never said which groups, and i couldn't get a connection with the answer. my wife is First Nation - is that the danger group?
John32122