# In search of painkillers that don't damage the stomach

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-search-of-painkillers-that-dont-damage-the-stomach/486874>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 21, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-search-of-painkillers-that-dont-damage-the-stomach/486874 "2009-02-21T18:31:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-search-of-painkillers-that-dont-damage-the-stomach/486874/21 "2009-02-23T16:10:43Z")

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> [@Kaio](#):
>
> I would check with a doctor on this point. My understanding was that liver toxicity can build up over time if you’re taking it consistently for weeks on end.

Yes, it can. If you take the limit of APAP for a long time, you can have liver toxicity effects. If your liver is healthy though, it will take awhile. However, if you do something that damages the liver at the same time as taking APAP, the effects will be magnified then either on its own. That is one reason you should NEVER take APAP while drinking, or even the day after heavy drinking (i.e. for a hangover).

You can also have magnified effects on your liver depending on other drugs that you might take, or if you have a problem with your CYP1A2 enzyme.

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-search-of-painkillers-that-dont-damage-the-stomach/486874/22 "2009-02-23T17:19:11Z")

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> [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](#):
>
> The only major problem with acetaminophen is liver toxicity, but as long as you have a health liver (aka, don’t drink a lot, doesn’t have Hepatitis) and don’t take more then 4000mg of acetaminophen in 24hrs it is safe.
> 
> .

But it’s easy to exceed that as acetaminophen is concealed in quite a few OTC remedies, such as Nyquil. And, “don’t drink a lot” could just be moderate alcohol use, not actual heavy drinking.

Note that use of Probiotics might be able to help with this problem. The seem to help out your gut in many ways.

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