Acetaminophen Dosage
Just because over-the-counter pain medications are sold without a doctor’s prescription, this does not mean they are always safe to take. I’m talking specifically about acetaminophen, aka Tylenol, which is the leading cause of liver failure in this country.
When a medication has acetaminophen in it, it's a good idea to be aware of the distinction between the amount (dose) that is safe to take and the amount that can cause serious liver problems. (Liver problems can be fatal, by the way.) The best way to do this is to read the label and follow your doctor’s and/or pharmacist’s instructions. Never exceed the dose that’s listed on the package, even if your pain is not going away.
There are hundreds of products on the market that contain acetaminophen, so you need to be very alert to the potential for overdose when you mix them. Risk factors have a tendency to add up, which can increase your likelihood of liver failure. So if you already have liver disease, or if you drink, you should be aware of how much acetaminophen you are getting. Again, read the label; ask your doctor, nurse and/or pharmacist if you are at all unsure.
In the hopes of reducing the incidence of acetaminophen toxicity nationwide, an advisory panel at the FDA has voted to recommend that the FDA take Vicodin and Percocet off the market. Vicodin and Percocet mix narcotics with acetaminophen, and this is particularly dangerous. The panel also voted to reduce the dosage of a single acetaminophen (Tylenol) pill from 500mg to 325mg, and to reduce daily maximum dosage to under 4000mg. The FDA is not required to implement the panel’s recommendations, but it usually does.
Here is some information from the FDA about giving Tylenol to your children.
| Tylenol for Back Pain? | How Much Do You Really Know About Tylenol? Take the Quiz | Over-the-Counter Pain Medications | Choosing Effective Pain Medications |
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Sources:
FDA Patient News Show #87. Help Patients Use Acetaminophen Safely. FDA website. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/psn/transcript.cfm?show=87#9
Harris, G. Panel Recommends Ban on 2 Popular Painkillers. NYT. June 30, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/health/01fda.html?_r=1&hp
Comments
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