New research provides additional evidence of Tylenol’s (or acetaminophen’s) dark side. A recent study shows acetaminophen may be implicated in the significant upsurge in pediatric asthma diagnoses since the 1980s when Tylenol began to be used more frequently (in place of aspirin). The most likely mechanism is depletion of glutathione in the airways.
As most of you know, since GetzWell’s inception our providers have generally discouraged the use of Tylenol/acetaminophen, as even a single dose may deplete glutathione, “the mother of all antioxidants” in the body.
While only anecdotal, the number of children in the GetzWell practice diagnosed with asthma is less than 0.5%, which is substantially below local and national averages that exceed 9%.
In many (if not most) pediatric practices it’s been the norm to premedicate infants and children with acetaminophen before administering immunizations. At GetzWell, we have never supported the routine use of Tylenol before, or even after, vaccinations. In the majority of babies, breast milk is protective against post-vaccine fevers (another of breast milk’s myriad benefits!) and there’s solid evidence that Tylenol may blunt the body’s ability to create an adequate immune response to vaccines.
Please also see our follow-up post on this subject.
If you have additional questions about immunizing your child or what to do should your baby/child develop a fever or discomfort, don’t hesitate to give us a call: 826-1701.