FDA Says Public Still Unaware of Tylenol Risks

Did someone say the FDA appears to be waking up from a long winter’s nap? Yes. Someone did, and now that the casual years are over, the agency has some questions about the safety of acetaminophen, the painkiller sold over the counter as Tylenol. US News & World Report reports that advisers to the federal agency will meet next
month to review an agency report calling for stronger warnings,
better consumer education, and limits on doses for acetaminophen. What’s the problem? The journal reports that part of the problem is too many and too much, meaning that too many people take too much acetaminophen, largely because they are unaware of acetaminophen’s potential to cause liver damage, and also because they don’t realize how many over-the-counter products, such remedies for colds, headaches and
fevers, are loaded with the drug.
US News tells us that an FDA report released this week calls for limiting the maximum adult daily dose to
no more than 3,250 milligrams, and further decreasing the daily maximum for
patients consuming three or more alcoholic drinks a day. Is that a problem?  It also recommends limiting the tablet
strength for immediate-release formulations to a maximum of 325
milligrams, and the single adult dose to a maximum of 650 milligrams. Yes, it all hurts.
Read more about Tylenol, alcohol, and liver problems here.
Read more in US News & World Report.