Tylenol Dosage Should Be Reduced Says FDA

on July 2, 2009 at 4:00 PM

Photo from Drugstore.com

The drug found in Tylenol, Nyquil, and Excedrin -- acetaminophen -- is being carefully reviewed by the FDA and their advisory panel announced that the maximum daily dose should be reduced to avoid liver damage.

The current maximum dose is eight pills (or 4,000 milligrams). The FDA would like to reduce it to 2,600 milligrams as reported in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The FDA notes that there are many over-the-counter drugs that contain acetaminophen and when combined or the dosage is high the results can be harmful over time.

Along with this change, the FDA also wants to ban on Percocet and Vicodin as reported in The New York Times. Percocet and Vicodin contain acetaminophen along with a narcotic for pain relief.

I'm sure more information will be coming out about this potential change and I'm going to be all ears.

What do you think of the suggestions by the FDA? Are you concerned?

About the author Michele Zipp

loves vintage and will defend skinny jeans to the death though she is highly superstitious and "death" is probably a bad word choice. She has a touch of the hoarding disease and enjoys sleuthing, the worst reality shows, and wearing high heels, even at the playground. She's an AP mom of twins, slightly crunchy but with a pedicure.

Filed Under: in the news, medicine

Comments (8)

RanaAurora

on Jul 2, 2009 at 4:24 PM

Huh, interesting.

You know, if they're really this concerned, they need to look into APPROVING more natural, less harmful things.

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aurorabunny

on Jul 2, 2009 at 5:11 PM

Huh, interesting was exactly what I was going to type.

I'm aware of the potential risks with Tylenol, a lot more than most people think. However compared with some of the deadly things they have on the market I don't know why they're making such a fuss out of this. Odd.

Sue692

on Jul 2, 2009 at 6:54 PM

I feel if Tylenol is taken properly there should be no concerns. people need to pay more attention to how they are taking it. Susan

science_spot

on Jul 2, 2009 at 8:17 PM

The Philidelphia Inquirer? I understand they are a respected newspaper, but if you have a story about the FDA, could you link to their website, too??

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm168830.htm

And, it's about time! They have known for years that consumers are reckless about treating themselves, particularly with this drug, which the public thinks is incredibly safe at any dose. They don't realize the cummulative affects can be very severe.

rozepyle

on Jul 2, 2009 at 10:04 PM

and this is why i never take tylenol even with the worst migraine and here i am tired of people telling me im crazy for it INCLUDING DRS AND WHATNOT sheesh! bout fuckin time

toriandgrace

on Jul 3, 2009 at 2:46 PM

Oh don't take away my Vicodin! Only thing that helps with my monster migranes. I'm more of an ibuprofin (advil) fan, personally.

Cafe MicheleZ

on Jul 3, 2009 at 6:35 PM

science_spot, the first place I read about this was in The Philadelphia Inquirer and then also in the NYT, so I had to source where I learned the info. Thanks for the FDA link though.

RoseWall

on Jul 4, 2009 at 9:40 PM

i already practice that i dont use the recommended dosages. they are too high. i have for yrs instructd my older kids about taking the correct dosages for this reason. for us it is a half dose. or three quarters if the half doesnt work. yeah those drugs are drugs.