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We have all this knowledge of human physiology and metabolism I think the depth of knowledge is very uneven. We're not sure how Tylenol works. (Disclaimer: I w

We have all this knowledge of human physiology and metabolism I think the depth of knowledge is very uneven. We're not sure how Tylenol works. (Disclaimer: I work in software, not bioscience)

nzzzz 7y ago
There will never be explanations on "how paracetamol (the principal substance of tylenol) works" because.. it doesn't work. It doesn't fare better than placebo. https://www.evidentlycochrane.net/paracetamol-widely-used-ineffective/ https://www.evidentlycochrane.net/paracetamol-widely-used-in... At least, placebos don't harm the user. There's evidence paracetamol is harmful. https://ard.bmj.com/content/75/3/552 https://ard.bmj.com/content/75/3/552 And dosages higher than 4g/day are known to destroy the liver. Paracetamol overdose is one of the most painful way to kill yourself. Its abuse being freely sold over the counter makes it the number one cause of liver failure in the US and UK. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1403265/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1403265/ >Paracetamol’s toxicity is also the single biggest cause of acute liver failure in the United States. Cases have been rising for six years, according to a study published in December (Hepatology 2005;42:1364-72). By 2003, the drug accounted for just over half the cases of acute liver failure, and about half of these cases were the result of unintentional overdose. It boggles the mind the substance has not been put under harsher control yet.
- circlefavshape 7y ago
  Looks to me like you're over-generalizing. From skimming that article it appears that paracetamol is ineffective against chronic page, not the headache/hangover that most people use it for
trappist 7y ago
That's medicine, where the use of much better techniques are feasible and appropriate than in nutrition. What I'm saying isn't true of all fields. I'd put nutrition and economics near the top of the list, and medicine much further down.

We have all this knowledge of human physiology and metabolism I think the depth of knowledge is very uneven. We're not sure how Tylenol works. (Disclaimer: I work in software, not bioscience)

nzzzz 7y ago

There will never be explanations on "how paracetamol (the principal substance of tylenol) works" because.. it doesn't work. It doesn't fare better than placebo. https://www.evidentlycochrane.net/paracetamol-widely-used-ineffective/ https://www.evidentlycochrane.net/paracetamol-widely-used-in... At least, placebos don't harm the user. There's evidence paracetamol is harmful. https://ard.bmj.com/content/75/3/552 https://ard.bmj.com/content/75/3/552 And dosages higher than 4g/day are known to destroy the liver. Paracetamol overdose is one of the most painful way to kill yourself. Its abuse being freely sold over the counter makes it the number one cause of liver failure in the US and UK. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1403265/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1403265/ >Paracetamol’s toxicity is also the single biggest cause of acute liver failure in the United States. Cases have been rising for six years, according to a study published in December (Hepatology 2005;42:1364-72). By 2003, the drug accounted for just over half the cases of acute liver failure, and about half of these cases were the result of unintentional overdose. It boggles the mind the substance has not been put under harsher control yet.

circlefavshape 7y ago
Looks to me like you're over-generalizing. From skimming that article it appears that paracetamol is ineffective against chronic page, not the headache/hangover that most people use it for

trappist 7y ago

That's medicine, where the use of much better techniques are feasible and appropriate than in nutrition. What I'm saying isn't true of all fields. I'd put nutrition and economics near the top of the list, and medicine much further down.