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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards

Alcohol vs APAP comparison (if any)

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Hybris

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Not sure if there have been any studies done in this regard but a lot of you seem well versed in the technicalities and on the scientific side of things. Is there any sort of comparison between alochol ingestion as opposed to acetaminophen as far as effects on the body goes. Example: 2 drinks = 1000 mg APAP. Educated guesses are welcome.

I'm not asking because I want to combine the two, more along the lines of who does more damage to their body (liver in specific), an alcoholic or a prescription drug abuser.
 
What is worse getting hit by lightening or stabbed with a knife?

Acute APAP poisoning can result in liver failure. Acute ethanol poisoning can result in CNS depression, seizure, and death.

Chronic APAP poisoning can result in liver failure. Chronic ethanol poisoning can result in liver failure, vitamin deficiency, dementia, and is associated with severe withdrawal symptoms which can be fatal.

Literally pick your poison. I would say APAP has a lower therapeutic index, but I won't as APAP is just an adulterant to the active chemical and therefore no normalization by dose can be applied since ethanol is the active chemical itself.
 
Thanks for the sarcastic response. I'm not stupid or ignorant to those facts, I was just genuinely interested if there was any legitimate comparison or "conversion" if you will regarding the effects on the liver.
 
I wasn't being sarcastic, my comment about lightening and stabbing was just illustrating how it is difficult to equate them. Then I compared their acute and chronic effects and finally did mention how APAP is considerably more toxic on a gram to gram basis but as it is just an ingredient added to the desired substance it can't be related by dosage either.
 
I believe he's trying to gauge how liver toxic alcohol is in comparison to APAP.

As far as I know, it takes many drinks over a long period of time to do noticeable liver damage. I'm sure one would die of something like respiratory depression before liver failure. Let's look at how many Americans enjoy their 24-7 binges of whiskey.

I don't think it's anything a person could necessarily answer right off the bat. I imagine the two substances have different methods of causing liver damage. Not only to mention it would probably require testing on a human.
 
Having read your question several times to try and avoid being accused of sarcasm, I do not believe you can make any direct comparison doe my dose on liver damage between alcohol and APAP.

The way and mechanisms that are in play that cause the liver damage are too diverse and your question to vague.

If you said "what would cause more liver damage 1000mgs of APAP or a bottle of whiskey" I still dont think it would be possible to answer, if I ws to have to choose between OD'ing on either substance I'd sat the APAP was more likely to cause permanent liver damage. That answer is purelt based on people I know that have drank to excess everyday for years and show no signs of liver damage and those that I know have OD'ed on APAP and have liver damage.

I hope that helps, none of the above is supposed to be sarcastic or in anyway offensive, juts adding my 10c ( I even did the currency conversion for ya;))
 
Didn't mean to come off the wrong way with the sarcastic comment and I apologize if I misinterpreted the response. Thanks for the feedback, I understand its a difficult comparison and clearly no exact answers can be given.
 
Hybris said:
Didn't mean to come off the wrong way with the sarcastic comment and I apologize if I misinterpreted the response. Thanks for the feedback, I understand its a difficult comparison and clearly no exact answers can be given.
Click to expand...

The study would go like this: "hey, can we damage about 60 peoples' livers so we can determine whether ethyl-alcohol or paracetamol does it quicker?" DENIED.

Sorry mate - as others have said, you aren't going to find this info, if for not the reason I just mentioned, than due to the fact that APAP and Alcohol makes $$$$$$$ for the govt and companies that produce them. Media is propaganda - they aren't going to willingly let $ leave their pockets.
 
I'd say the comparison is more than difficult. Either way, atm23, Renz, and others have answered in the same way I would have. They're both bad for your liver...pick your poison. Although, as others have said, one acute APAP overdose is all you need to destroy or seriously damage your liver...where as ethyl alcohol takes a bit longer to do the same thing...

Since this question can't really be answered completely I'm going to close this thread. OP, PM me if you have any other questions and we can discuss re-opening the thread if you'd like.

-NT
 
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