/oss/taxonomy/term/1259/all en /oss/article/health-you-asked/does-tylenol-affect-human-empathy <p>Tylenol is a trade name for acetaminophen, a medication that has been used for over a hundred years to treat pain and fever. Unlike acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) it does not affect blood clotting and can safely be used by people who are on “blood thinners.” Metabolism of acetaminophen occurs in the liver with its breakdown products being readily excreted. However, an overdose can result in exceeding the liver’s ability to safely eliminate metabolites and one of these, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine, can damage the liver to the extent that a liver-transplant is needed.</p> Fri, 03 May 2019 16:00:00 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7743 at /oss /oss/article/controversial-science-health-news-quirky-science-supplements/n-acetylcysteine-biochemical-triumph <p>When a diagnosis is made of acetaminophen overdose in an emergency room, out comes the N-acetylcysteine (NAC). This is not a rare occurrence because acetaminophen is a widely used pain killer and often people think that if a little is good, more must be better. It isn’t. Especially when combined with alcohol. That’s not a rare occurrence either. Drink, get a headache, take a pill.</p> Fri, 08 Nov 2013 03:10:39 +0000 Alexandra Pires-Ménard, OSS Intern 2028 at /oss