Acetylcysteine for Acetaminophen Poisoning New England Journal of Medicine Could Tylenol be making your child's health worse? Acetaminophen is widely used for pain and fever relief, but research suggests it depletes glutathione, a powerful antioxidant essential for immune function, Tylenol Avoid or Not to Avoid? Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can deplete glutathione, your body's most important detox antioxidant. This matters even more if your child has an MTHFR gene mutation, which Can Tylenol (acetaminophen) deplete glutathione levels in the body?