Advil or Tylenol better for fighting a hangover?

[spidey07]

bloody mary and plenty of water.

you're all set.

 

[Encryptic]

2 Aleve and some water before you go to bed. It works, especially when passing out in bed after 14+ shots of Cuervo, way too many beers and your wife drives your drunk ass home from a Memorial Day party at the in-laws house. 😉

 

[Nanotech]

Take everyone's advice at once and you'll have a lot more to worry about than a hangover!

 

[SilentZero]

Originally posted by: Mark R

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Tylenol may be easier on your stomach, but advil is better for you all around. Tylenol's being found to cause problems. Looking for a link...

I disagree. Advil is potentially quite nasty. It is well known to cause upset stomach, ulcers and internal bleeding. It can also cause kidney damage or exaccerbate heart problems.

Tylenol is very safe, with the exception of overdosage. Overdosage is a problem because it can cause severe liver damage. If you are a regular drinker (2 drinks a day or more), or are underweight, then you are at especially high risk of liver damage from overdose. Note that acetaminophen, the active ingredient, is found in lots of remedies, and over-the-counter hangover cures. If you don't check the ingredients carefully, you may accidentally overdose on it, and not even realise you have taken it in the first place! Medications like percocet, vicodin and lots of others contain a full dose of tylenol!

Tylenol has not been reported to cause liver injury at the recommended dose, expect in people with pre-existing severe liver disease, who have taken the max dose of tylenol daily for several weeks.

Advil (Ibuprofen) is only potentially nasty if you take it daily and at large doses for an extended period of time. It is an NSAID "non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug" as is aleve (naproxen), and various others. By taking motrin or any other NSAID for a few days, the chances you will get any of those GI problems or kidney problems is EXTREMELY RARE. Most of those problems mentioned come with long term use, and Dr.s don't normally let you stay on them that long. I took motrin for a long time, 800mg three times a day (2400mg per day), and a variety of other NSAID's, as my dr. changed it up every 3-6 months, and I never had any liver or GI problems because of it.

Tylenol is a very safe drug....however, the point of this post was taking it for hangovers...in which case its not safe at all. Tylenol + alcohol = liver damage. If I had to choose one or the other id go with motrin any day. The potential risks of having a adverse reaction with motrin after a night of drinking is far less than with tylenol.

But technically, you shouldn't be taking either. Get rid of the hangover the natural way....suffering.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Full imersion bath in ice water will do the trick. Hangover is smart, does not like the cold water.

 

[Mark R]

Originally posted by: SilentZero
Tylenol is a very safe drug....however, the point of this post was taking it for hangovers...in which case its not safe at all. Tylenol + alcohol = liver damage.

My point, earlier, was that there is no evidence for this statement.

There is good evidence that tylenol overdose + alcoholism = liver damage. In fact this is a very common cause of liver failure.

However, there is no compelling evidence that taking alcohol at the same time as tylenol increases its toxicity. Guidelines for the treatment of tylenol poisoning do not take into account recent alcohol consumption - only regular long-term alcohol consumption.

There is also no evidence that tylenol at normal dosage causes liver damage, except when people already have advanced liver-disease/cirrhosis.

There have been several cases of young people developing liver failure - which was initially attributed to taking tylenol and alcohol together. In every case, when these were investigated - these people, usually students, had daily alcholol consumption in the alcoholic range - and all had taken overdoses of tylenol (usually inadvertantly, becuase virtually all over-the-counter hangover cures contain tylenol as the active ingredient).

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Originally posted by: MrsSkoorb
Tylenol IS okay after you have stopped drinking for about 12 hours...ie: the next day....

Yeah, but if you are hung over there maybe still be alcohol in your stomach, or blood. IMO, Stay away from Tylenol.

 

[SilentZero]

Originally posted by: Mark R

Originally posted by: SilentZero
Tylenol is a very safe drug....however, the point of this post was taking it for hangovers...in which case its not safe at all. Tylenol + alcohol = liver damage.

My point, earlier, was that there is no evidence for this statement.

There is good evidence that tylenol overdose + alcoholism = liver damage. In fact this is a very common cause of liver failure.

However, there is no compelling evidence that taking alcohol at the same time as tylenol increases its toxicity. Guidelines for the treatment of tylenol poisoning do not take into account recent alcohol consumption - only regular long-term alcohol consumption.

There is also no evidence that tylenol at normal dosage causes liver damage, except when people already have advanced liver-disease/cirrhosis.

There have been several cases of young people developing liver failure - which was initially attributed to taking tylenol and alcohol together. In every case, when these were investigated - these people, usually students, had daily alcholol consumption in the alcoholic range - and all had taken overdoses of tylenol (usually inadvertantly, becuase virtually all over-the-counter hangover cures contain tylenol as the active ingredient).

Then go take a crap load of it and see what effects it has. If you want answers go ask a Dr. or Pharmacist. I highly doubt anyone here has studied this at any great length to give a definitive answer, including myself. From what I heard of the subject from working in a hospital, was that you shouldn't take take tylenol immediately prior too, during, or immediately after an excessive amount of drinking. There are a ton of variables in any situation, especally patient history. So my rule is be on the safe side and avoid it altogether.

 

[Isshinryu]

Originally posted by: Mark R

Originally posted by: SilentZero
Tylenol is a very safe drug....however, the point of this post was taking it for hangovers...in which case its not safe at all. Tylenol + alcohol = liver damage.

My point, earlier, was that there is no evidence for this statement.

There is good evidence that tylenol overdose + alcoholism = liver damage. In fact this is a very common cause of liver failure.

However, there is no compelling evidence that taking alcohol at the same time as tylenol increases its toxicity. Guidelines for the treatment of tylenol poisoning do not take into account recent alcohol consumption - only regular long-term alcohol consumption.

There is also no evidence that tylenol at normal dosage causes liver damage, except when people already have advanced liver-disease/cirrhosis.

There have been several cases of young people developing liver failure - which was initially attributed to taking tylenol and alcohol together. In every case, when these were investigated - these people, usually students, had daily alcholol consumption in the alcoholic range - and all had taken overdoses of tylenol (usually inadvertantly, becuase virtually all over-the-counter hangover cures contain tylenol as the active ingredient).

Moderate to heavy alcohol users (read: most college kids, including those who only drink on weekends) are subject to alcohol-acetaminophen syndrome, with an increasing possibility of acute liver disease, at theraputic levels (read: recommended dosage). While it is unlikely at <4g/24h, it is possible. Isn't it better to be safe than sorry?