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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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19

Easy on the Tylenol: FDA Panel

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(Newser) – An outside panel reporting to the Food and Drug Administration recommended today that the maximum daily dosage of Tylenol be reduced and the Extra Strength variety of the painkiller be available only by prescription, Bloomberg reports. The panel of advisers, whose suggestions are nonbinding, noted acetaminophen’s effect on the liver. The panel also recommended that prescription painkillers Vicodin and Percocet be banned.

“The most important target for our action is unintentional harm,” one member said of the Tylenol. “Education is a weak intervention and we really are looking for more concrete steps.” Tylenol-maker Johnson & Johnson argued that the move would push people to use ibuprofen products like Advil, which can cause gastrointestinal bleeding.

Tylenol for sale at a drug store.
Tylenol for sale at a drug store.   (AP Photo)
Advil may get a boost from this recommendation, says Johnson & Johnson...who points out it can cause gastrointestinal bleeding.
Advil may get a boost from this recommendation, says Johnson & Johnson...who points out it can cause gastrointestinal bleeding.   (AP Photo)
Tylenol.
Tylenol.   (AP Photo)
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19 comments
VIEWING:
 
inky
Jun 30, 09 4:41 PM CDT
I'm going back to aspirin. I'm tired of all the confusion. Reply
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+3
IN RESPONSE:
Newser001
Jun 30, 09 9:55 PM CDT
(1) Acetaminophen overdose was linked to 458 deaths and 26,000 hospitalizations annually from 1990 to 2001, according to an FDA review released ahead of the meeting. The drug is a leading cause of acute liver failure. (2) The panel voted 21-16 today that people should take (less than) >4000mg of Tylenol or other over-the-counter products containing acetaminophen in a day. The current maximum equals eight Extra Strength, or 500mg, tablets or capsules a day. (3) The panel voted 24-13 to lower the single adult dose to >650mg, or two regular strength tablets, a reduction of 35 percent. The panel voted 26-11 that the 500-milligram Extra Strength dose should be available through prescription only. (4) J&J stated (makers of Tylenol), limiting access to acetaminophen may inadvertently lead people to switch to ibuprofen, which has its own safety risks including gastrointestinal bleeding. (5) Bottom line, best to avoid Tylenol, etc (acetaminophen) or Advil, etc (ibuprofen), if at all possible.
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0
IN RESPONSE:
psycada
Jul 1, 09 3:23 PM CDT
If it wasn't for Bayer pushing to get marijuana banned, we could all light up instead and not worry about side effects like this.
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pwnage
Jun 30, 09 4:54 PM CDT
I remember back in HS (class of '81) learning that acetaminophen was the safest drug known. We used to gobble it up to get rid of 'weekend headaches'. Reply
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+1
IN RESPONSE:
plstyle
Jun 30, 09 5:57 PM CDT
OUCH! you know the worst thing you can do to your liver is take Acetaminophen with alcohol in your system?
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+5

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