There is new evidence that the use of acetaminophen by young people can lead
to increased incidence of asthma and eczema. Acetaminophen use and asthma might be linked. Acetaminophen is a pretty common ingredient in over the counter medications. We all have heard most if not all of these drug names over the years;
- Benadryl,
- Excedrin,
- Midol,
- Allerest,
- Sine-off,
- Sudafed and
- Tylenol.
Common Acetaminophen Uses
What these brands all have in common is that they may contain the active ingredient acetaminophen. Acetaminophen has been used for years to relieve mild to moderate pain from:
- headaches,
- muscle aches,
- menstrual periods,
- colds and sore throats,
- toothaches,
- backaches,
- osteoarthritis,
- reactions to some vaccinations and to
- reduce fever.
Available Forms
You can buy a tablet, chewable tablet, capsule, suspension or liquid, drops, and extended-release tablet. Normally you take it by mouth, with or without food. Acetaminophen is available without a prescription but it’s getting harder to get to in the stores because they are locking it up.
Link Between Acetaminophen Use and Asthma
The results of a new study that is being released are supposed to show that even minimal use of it may double the risk of asthma in young teens. (read the complete article).
Monthly use can double the rate of asthma in adolescents compared to a group of kids the same age that doesn’t take acetaminophen.
“This study has identified that the reported use of acetaminophen in 13- and 14 year old adolescent children was associated with an exposure-dependent increased risk of asthma symptoms,” said study first author Richard Beasley, M.D., professor of medicine, at the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand on behalf of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC).
If you are a parent, you should talk about the use of this common over-the-counter medication with your child’s doctor. Alternatives such as ibuprofen might be safer, especially if there are other asthma risks. If there is a link between acetaminophen use and asthma, it might be better to be safe than sorry.