I'm married to an ER doctor - he says NEVER take popular medication for a hangover...it can wreck your liver

Daily Mail​

06-05-2025

The wife of an emergency medic has revealed the type of painkiller her husband urges her to avoid on a hangover due to the risk of deadly liver damage.
In a video clip posted to Instagram, which has been viewed more than 4 million times, Claire Edwards said she can't 'even look' at paracetamol without her doctor husband 'dropping down from the ceiling like a swat team member'.
'Don't take Tylenol after you've been drinking,' she added.
Tylenol is the US brand name for acetaminophen, which is the same medication as paracetamol.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, combining alcohol with paracetamol can accentuate the pain reliever's toxic effects on the liver.
Instead of paracetamol, experts suggest taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or aspirin to treat a hangover headache.
In the clip, Ms Edwards revealed a host of other surprising health 'rules' that her husband swears by—as well as those who thinks are nonsense.
For instance, he stressed the importance of folic acid for pregnant women—as it can prevent brain abnormalities in newborns.
But, 'when I was pregnant, he really didn't care if I was eating deli meat,' Ms Edwards added.
The NHS advises avoiding some types of ready-to-eat meat, like salami, pepperoni and prosciutto, as they are cured rather than cooked, meaning they carry risk of bacterial contamination.
Folic acid can be found in certain foods such as leafy green vegetables and fortified breakfast cereals, and helps support the healthy development of a baby's brain, skull and spinal cord during pregnancy.
But Dr Edwards says that, for people who are not pregnant, all vitamins, minerals and supplements are a waste of money.
'When I am not pregnant, he calls my vitamin regiment expensive pee, because he says you pee it all out', Ms Edwards said.
Scientists have long debated the health benefits of supplements for those who do not have a diagnosed vitamin deficiency.
According to Ms Edwards, the doctor is also against her using a decongestant nasal spray, such as Sudafed (or Afrin in the US) for more than two days in a row.
She said: 'He can sense if I have been using Afrin for more than two days and that's a big no no too.'
Whilst she didn't explain her husband's reasoning for this, experts have recently warned of rising numbers of people becoming hooked on nasal decongestant sprays, which can irritate sensitive blood vessels in the nose, causing swelling.
Over time, this worsens congestion, resulting in a vicious cycle that leaves patients more reliant on the medication to help them breathe.
Some are even forced to have surgery to address damage caused by chronic swelling, which can leave unsightly scars.
According to his wife, Dr Edwards is also passionate about keeping babies and toddlers away from glitter.
The substance can mix with the tear film when it gets into their eyes and cause significant irritation, as well as a nasty infection.