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February 28, 2008 09:11 pm
Student dies after acetaminophen overdose
Madalyn Byrne's parents warn others to be wary of taking excessive over-the-counter medicines.
By Andrew W. Griffin
CNHI News Service
OKLAHOMA CITY — For University of Oklahoma sophomore Madalyn “Maddy” Ruth Byrne, coming to the school to study music education was a dream come true.
However, the Burtonsville, Md., native would never get to fulfill that dream after her liver gave out and she died following an overdose of acetaminophen, an ingredient in pain relievers such as Tylenol and others.
Byrne’s grieving parents, Michael and Evelyn Byrne, were in Oklahoma City Thursday talking to the media at Integris Baptist Medical Center, where Madalyn, 19, died Monday.
Evelyn Byrne did most of the talking, telling the media about their daughter, a mellophone player for the Pride of Oklahoma marching band. A mellophone is the version of the French horn that is played in a marching band.
“She was an honors student, on the Dean’s List and active in band,” Michael Byrne said.
Madalyn’s cause of death, according to a medical report, was overdose of acetaminophen, which led to liver failure.
The Byrne family said their daughter was taking as many as nine Extra Strength Tylenol tablets a day for up to three weeks to help relieve pain from a toothache. The recommended dosage is two pills every four hours, not to exceed 8 in one day. Eventually, Byrne’s liver was no longer functioning, which put a strain on her heart and brain and led to her death.
“The warnings aren’t that clear,” Evelyn Byrne said. “A 19-year-old should read that bottle and understand clearly what can happen.”
It was Friday that Madalyn began feeling ill at her off-campus apartment and Saturday that she began getting nauseous and vomiting. On Sunday, Madalyn was unconscious. Her roommate called paramedics, and when they arrived it was thought she had sepsis or blood poisoning. She was initially taken to Norman Regional Hospital but was then transferred to Integris, where she died the following day.
The Byrne family said they want to warn parents and students always to check the label on a pill bottle, even if it’s an over-the-counter drug.
Integris physician Dr. Harlan Wright said that if a person is experiencing pain, take acetaminophen and get medical attention if it’s serious enough. As for Madalyn, it was never clear to her parents whether she had scheduled a dental appointment.
“The message here is to be careful about the dosage you are taking,” Wright said.
He said that on average, 200 people a year die from liver toxicity due to overdose of acetaminophen found in common cold and pain remedies available at the local drug store. In the past decade, Wright said Integris has seen 47 people who have experienced the same symptoms Madalyn faced. Five have died.
“We recommend no more than two grams (of acetaminophen) a day,” Wright said.
Andrew W. Griffin writes for The Norman (Okla.) Transcript.
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