Coles Notes: Choose an Ibuprofen based pain reliever when fighting a hangover to reduce the potential for liver damage as a result of mixing Acetaminophen and alcohol.
So you're standing in front of your nearest HealthBot with a hangover (we've all been there) and you're staring at two pain relievers
Acetaminophen (Tylenol™) or Ibuprofen (Advil™) which one do you choose?
Here's why you should never choose acetaminophen based pain killers to fight a hangover according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Your body metabolizes acetaminophen in the liver. When you take the recommended dosage, most of the medication is converted by your liver into a benign substance that is removed in your urine.
Your body converts a very small byproduct of metabolized acetaminophen into a toxic substance that can be harmful to your liver. Luckily, a secondary substance called glutathione helps minimize the toxic effects of acetaminophen.
However, if you take too much acetaminophen, or if the liver does not have an abundant reserve of glutathione, the toxic metabolite can accumulate and cause significant damage to your liver.
Like acetaminophen, alcohol is also metabolized by liver cells. In fact, both acetaminophen and alcohol utilize glutathione in the liver to temper their toxic effects.
Over time, chronic, heavy alcohol intake depletes your liver of its glutathione stores, which can lead to problems when acetaminophen is added to the mix.