Is Tylenol Safe During Pregnancy? Understanding Risk Factors Seeking Health Tylenol is just poison. , Dr. Stanton Hom explains how a simple over the counter drug can deplete glutathione, dysregulate detox, and show up in the literature as a risk factor for autism, asthma, Yes there is good evidence that acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) can deplete glutathione under certain conditions. But whether that matters depends on dose, duration, and individual factors. Old and New Analgesic Acetaminophen: Pharmacological Mechanisms Compared with Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs