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Do Pain Relief Patches Or Oral Medication Cause Liver Damage?

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Posted on Tue, 24 Nov 2015
Question: Are pain patches better for your liver thank oral medications ?
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Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (36 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
liver toxicity due to tylenol in oral medications

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns

You are wondering if pain patches are better for your liver than oral medications. the answer is depending on the medication. If you are taking percocet or vicodin or norco they all have acetaminophen or tylenol which causes liver damage in high doses > 3gms per day or if you take it with alcohol. Oral medications that are oxycodone alone are no toxic to liver cells. The patches are a type of opiate that is absorbed through the skin and since it does not have acetaminophen it is not toxic to your liver.

So in summary
It is the tylenol or acetaminophen in tablets that causes liver damage
Patches or pills of opiates alone are not toxic to your liver

I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any further questions or concerns
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Ronald Schubert

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1984

Answered : 2407 Questions

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Do Pain Relief Patches Or Oral Medication Cause Liver Damage?

Brief Answer: liver toxicity due to tylenol in oral medications Detailed Answer: Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns You are wondering if pain patches are better for your liver than oral medications. the answer is depending on the medication. If you are taking percocet or vicodin or norco they all have acetaminophen or tylenol which causes liver damage in high doses > 3gms per day or if you take it with alcohol. Oral medications that are oxycodone alone are no toxic to liver cells. The patches are a type of opiate that is absorbed through the skin and since it does not have acetaminophen it is not toxic to your liver. So in summary It is the tylenol or acetaminophen in tablets that causes liver damage Patches or pills of opiates alone are not toxic to your liver I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any further questions or concerns