Teen OD

Get him to a doctor if you can. The active ingredient of Tylenol is acetaminophen (paracetamol outside the U.S.) which damages the liver. It is often a long, drawn out, horrible death.

If your son won't go, N-acytel-cysteine supplements from a health store will help reduce the damage. It's what they would have given him at the hospital intravenously if they had known it was an OD.

But get him to a doctor as soon as you can anyway. Not only to assess the damage that might have been done, but also to get him some help for whatever caused him to want to end his life. This sounds like it wasn't a full blown attempt. More a cry for help. Listen, and make sure he gets it or there well likely be more attempts until one succeeds.

Best wishes

Ian

They can do something to help even though he took the pills Saturday night and it's now Wednesday?  I plan to have him go back in this evening.  He's drinking and I sent him to school (he wanted to go) and I let his teachers and school counselor know.  I'm not hiding this from them because that will just allow this to happen again.  All meds will be hidden and for what we have in this house, I am just thankful that it was just tylenol cause we have meds that could have really ended it.

Unfortunately, acetaminophen/paracetamol destruction of the liver can be a slow moving train wreck, though the most damage occurs within the first 12-24 hours. At the very least you need to find out what, if any, damage has been done. A liver function test should provide an answer.

Just hiding drugs he could use for a second attempt may not be enough. He really needs to be evaluated by a psychologist or psychiatrist. Most teenagers will think about/threaten to take their own lives at some point, but few make an attempt. Those that do need to be taken very seriously.

Ian

Made an error in the above. Maximum hepatoxicity occurs some 72-96 hours after ingestion, not 12-24.

I wanted to thank you for all your help.  We did take him to the ER after your advice and he was admitted immediately for liver damage.  After 3 rounds of IV medication treatment, it did come down to just below 1000 so they are going to monitor and are expecting it to lower on it's own in time.  He's now in a residential psychiatic center and although I do believe him that he wasn't trying to hurt himself and he didn't know the damage he could do, I'm hoping they keep him and works on issues

 Tylenol is no joke people...wow

Thank you for keeping me informed. I'm glad that your son is getting the help he needs.

And you're right, acetaminophen/paracetamol poisoning is no joke. Anyone thinking it might be an easy way out of their problems should think again. It is a horrible way to die.

Wishing your son, you and your family the best

Ian


PS: For those contemplating suicide, please consider: http://www.metanoia.org/suicide/