With all the hype of Michael Jackson's death and memorial, you may have missed what is potentially dangerous in your purse or medicine cabinet--Tylenol and other drugs containing acetaminophen.
On June 30, 2009, an advisory committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended that the FDA restrict the use of acetaminophen, the widely-used pain medication found in products such as Tylenol and Excedrin. The reason for the crackdown is the potential for liver damage that can occur when too much of the medication is taken.
Taken in recommended doses, acetaminophen is a safe and effective pain-killing (analgesic) and fever-reducing (anti-pyretic) agent. For the average healthy adult, the recommended maximum dose of acetaminophen over a 24 hour period has been considered to be four grams (4000 mg). Each extra-strength Tylenol pill currently contains 500 mg, and each regular strength pill contains 325 mg.
However, taking about twice the recommended dose can result in liver damage in a healthy person. Most times, people are taking too much because they are mixing Tylenol with medications that contain acetaminophen (such as NyQuil) without even being aware that the products contain acetaminophen.
Taking Tylenol with prescription drugs can be dangerous as well for the same reason. Some brand-name pain prescriptions containing acetaminophen include:
- Vicodin,
- Lortab,
- Tylenol with codeine,
- Percocet,
- Magnacet,
- Endocet, and
- Darvocet.
The advisory panel makes these recommendations:
1. That the single adult acetaminophen dose should be no more than 650 milligrams, (two "regular strength" Tylenol tablets as opposed to two "extra strength" tablets containing 1000 mg)
2. That the 1000 mg dose of acetaminophen be available only by prescription
3. That the maximum daily dose of 4000 mg be lowered (but did not recommend a new daily maximum)
4. That prescription drug products that combine acetaminophen with other painkillers such as narcotics, such as Vicodin and Percocet, be eliminated. If these are not eliminated from the market, the panel recommended that they carry a "black box" warning about the potential for acetaminophen overdose.
So, if you are taking this medication because of a workers' comp claim, car accident, motorcycle accident or because of day-to-day pains, consult your doctor for answers to your medical questions. For answers to legal questions pertaining to a personal injury claim or workers' compensation claim, click here to contact Personal Injury Attorney Matthew Noyes.
