drugs

Acetaminophen vs alcohol

I had a drinking event come up while I was on a NyQuil / DayQuil regimen, and I knew I wasn’t supposed to combine the alcohol with the acetaminophen, but I didn’t know why. Here’s why:

Acetaminophen is metabolized in the liver, where it is generally converted to harmless substances and flushed out of the body. When the amount of acetaminophen the liver needs to process is excessive, however, the regular pathway for metabolization is overwhelmed, and a secondary pathway is used, via the CYP2E1 enzyme. This pathway also happens to be the one used by the liver to metabolize alcohol. When breaking up acetaminophen, the CYP2E1 enzyme creates a small amount of a toxic compound called NAPQI as a byproduct. NAPQI is normally rendered harmless by naturally-occurring glutathione molecules.

Alcohol interferes with acetaminophen metabolism by increasing the activity of the CYP2E1 enzyme, so that it processes more acetaminophen, resulting in a larger quantity of NAPQI. If the amount of glutathione present cannot neutralize the NAPQI, the excess of toxins, called hepatotoxicity, can lead to liver damage.

Moral: don’t exceed the recommended daily dose of acetaminophen or drink more than the recommended number of drinks while taking the medicine. Read the labels!

References:

http://www.medicinenet.com/tylenol_liver_damage/page3.htm

http://goaskalice.columbia.edu/mixing-alcohol-and-acetaminophen-how-can-i-reduce-my-risk-side-effects

http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/overdoing-acetaminophen.shtml

http://journals.lww.com/em-news/Fulltext/2003/02000/Do_Acetaminophen_and_Alcohol_Mix_.24.aspx

What is melatonin, exactly?

What is melatonin?

Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the body in response to darkness. A control center in the hypothalamus handles signaling related to processes that make us feel sleepy or awake, and when it’s dark (and only when it’s dark), the control center tells the pineal gland to produce melatonin. Natural melatonin production decreases with age, and people who have trouble sleeping are typically low in melatonin.

Should I take a melatonin supplement?

Study results are mixed regarding the effectiveness of melatonin as a sleep aid, and for its use in the treatment of all sorts of other physical and mental issues. It’s recommended that if you try it, you use it as a short-term supplement, for up to two months. The most common side effects are daytime sleepiness, dizziness, and headaches; there have been no reports of overdoses or toxicity.

Warnings: Melatonin could interfere with lots of different medications, so talk to your doctor if you’re medicating. It is the only hormone approved for sale in the US, and it is sold as a supplement, so it’s not regulated. Choose commercial supplements made in a lab, as those made from animal sources could contain contaminants.

References