substitute for tylenol

[Margie]

I just completed a thirteen day stint in the hospital, so am a bit behind on everything, but have read something on the postings about tylenol lowering platelets. This is a concern to me since I have only 8,000 platelets (and that is up 2 since returning home). My body rejects any efforts to tranfuse platelets, even special matched ones, so what I make is what I get.

I don't want to distroy any of them, however I run a constant fever 24 hours a day, and when it gets really high, tylenol is all I have to use. Is there any substitute for tylenol that is better? Thanks again for any help anyone can give me.

[evansmom]

Hi there.

Tylenol does not harm or interfere with platelet production...you may be thinking of Motrin (ibuprofen) which is not recommended for someone with a platelet problem.

What is even more concerning is why you are running a fever 24 hours a day? If you are neutropenic, with absolute neutrophil count 500 or less, you shouldn't be masking a fever with tylenol but rather high-tailing to the hospital for admission and IV antibiotic therapy. Fever is not OK and you must push for the answer behind it, your life depends on that.

Best wishes,

[Margie]

Thanks evansmom,

That releaves my mind. I just a few days ago completed a long hospital stay ro receive industrial strength IV antibiotics, two kinds. I an also on oral antibiotics at home. The infection seems to have been taken care of. I had a bone marrow biopsy while in the hospital, so maybe that will shed some light.

Actually my fever was worse after I came out of the hospital than when I entered - along with some other things.


Thanks again so much: I am just not up to doing my own research yet.