The safest pain medicine for people with cirrhosis is acetaminophen (Tylenol). However, you should not take more than 3,000 milligrams in one day. And it is best if you limit yourself to 650 milligrams per dose. That’s the equivalent of two regular strength acetaminophen tablets.

Take the acetaminophen for as short a time as possible. If you need to take if for more than five days in a row, contact your doctor. And be sure that you’re eating enough. Acetaminophen can be more dangerous if someone is not getting adequate calories.

You should avoid taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen. They can irritate the lining of the stomach and intestines. People with cirrhosis have a higher risk of internal bleeding from NSAIDs.

Also, cirrhosis causes the kidneys to be more vulnerable to injury from drugs. This is especially true of NSAIDs.