For decades Americans have been told to “trust Tylenol” because it was supposed to be safer than other pain relievers. Now the FDA is considering stronger warnings about overdosing on acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol.
The agency is especially worried about powerful prescription pain relievers such as Vicodin and Percocet because they combine acetaminophen with narcotics. People with severe, chronic pain can adapt to the narcotic and with doctor’s supervision may take fairly high doses. They do not, however, adapt to the consequences of high-dose acetaminophen. This medication can lead to liver damage.
There is also a concern that so many over-the-counter products like cold remedies, allergy pills, cough medicine and night time pain relievers contain acetaminophen that a person could get too much without realizing it. An FDA panel has suggested lowering the maximum daily dose of acetaminophen by about a third from 4,000 mg to 2,600 mg. Although Tylenol remains a helpful pain reliever, especially for those with sensitive stomachs, the new warnings, if adopted, should make people more cautious about acetaminophen.
