Is There Aluminum In Tylenol?
Did you know that there is aluminum in some popular medicines like Tylenol? This is a heavy element often found in these products.
Tylenol is the brand name for the drug acetaminophen. In some countries, people also call it paracetamol. It is a common medicine you can buy without a prescription. People use it to help with mild or middle-level pain and to lower a fever. You might take Tylenol if you have a headache, muscle pain, back pain, cramps during your period, tooth pain, or light arthritis pain. It can also help bring down a fever from a cold or the flu.
Tylenol is different from medicines like ibuprofen or aspirin. These other drugs are called NSAIDs. They lower pain and also swelling, but Tylenol does not lower swelling. Tylenol is easier on the stomach, so many people choose it, especially those with stomach or heart problems.
Even though Tylenol can be easier on the stomach, it is not always safe for everyone. Some types of Tylenol also contain aluminum in the parts of the medicine that are not the main drug. The types with aluminum in them are: “Tylenol Day Time Relief”, “Tylenol Nighttime”, “Tylenol Body Pain Night”, “Tylenol Complete Cold, Cough and Flu”, “Tylenol Extra Strength Cold”, “Tylenol Extra Strength Flu”, “Tylenol Extra Strength Cold and Sinus”, “Tylenol Extra Strength Sinus”, and “Tylenol Extra Strength Back Pain”.
Why Is Aluminum Dangerous and What Can It Do to Your Health?
Usually, the kidneys help to remove small amounts of aluminum from the body. Most of the time, the body gets rid of this metal with no problem. But, if you take in too much aluminum or your kidneys do not work well, the metal can build up inside the body. This can be bad for your health. A big worry is what aluminum can do to the brain. Research shows that too much aluminum in the brain may have something to do with brain problems like Alzheimer's disease. Some studies done after death have found higher levels of aluminum in the brains of people who had Alzheimer’s.
The paper “Aluminum and Alzheimer’s disease: after a century of controversy, is there a plausible link?” shares several important points:
Aluminum builds up in the brain, mostly in parts that are at greater risk for Alzheimer’s. Some people say hat aluminum cannot really harm the brain or that it only builds up after the brain starts to break down. But the author says that eating small amounts of aluminum for many years can still get into the brain through special body processes. Also, lab tests often show that being around aluminum for a long time causes signs of Alzheimer’s, like bad protein clumps and tangled brain cells. Since 1911, animal tests have shown that long-term contact with aluminum can lead to brain problems similar to those seen in Alzheimer’s disease.
Also, aluminum can harm the nerves even at low levels. This shows that the amount you get from the surroundings may be enough to cause trouble. The review points out that many people have the wrong idea about how much aluminum your body keeps and how it leaves the body. Some people say aluminum is not a big problem because they think the body gets rid of it fast and the brain is kept safe. But the author gives proof that aluminum can stay in the body for a long time. It can build up, especially in nerve cells, and stay there for many years.
Who Is Most at Risk From Aluminum Exposure?
Aluminum exposure can be very unsafe for people who have long-term kidney disease. Their bodies cannot get rid of aluminum as well, so it can build up in the body. This build-up can get so high that it causes serious health problems. It can lead to something called dialysis encephalopathy, also called “dialysis dementia.” This is a brain problem that may cause trouble speaking, memory loss, personality changes, and in very bad cases, seizures or coma.
Too much aluminum is also linked to soft bones when it stops bones from keeping strong minerals. It can also cause small, low-quality red blood cells when the body has trouble making enough healthy cells. People who work where aluminum is refined or in welding jobs might breathe in aluminum dust. This dust can hurt the lungs, causing problems like lung scarring or making it feel hard to breathe, much like asthma.
Swallowing lots of antacids or buffered aspirin with aluminum in them for a long time can also cause aluminum build-up in the body. This is even more of a risk if someone’s kidneys are not working well. In this case on the blog today, Tylenol can also have the same kind of problem.
What Should You Do If You're Concerned About Aluminum Toxicity?
That being said, not everything is bad. If you have used these medications and feel worried about aluminum toxicity, you can get a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) with us. This can help you know if you have too much aluminum in your body. We can then help you balance your minerals and get metals out.