On January 14th, the Food and Drug Administration launched a major crackdown on the overuse of acetaminophen, more commonly called by its trade name, Tylenol. The active ingredient in Tylenol is used in combination with other painkillers in a number of popular medications. Some notable ones include Vicodin, Percocet, Lortab, and their corresponding generics (hydrocodone/acetaminophen and oxycodone/acetaminophen). They are also found in a variety of over-the-counter cough and cold, muscle pain, and headache medications. Through the use of one, or a combination of several of these medications used together, the chance to exceed the maximum amount of 4,000mg per day can happen more commonly than you may think. The crackdown comes as a result of more and more evidence suggesting that higher amounts of acetaminophen are the root cause for liver damage due to high consumption. Acetaminophen is metabolized in … Continue reading
by: Michael Rea, PharmD Tylenol (generic name: acetaminophen) is regarded by healthcare professionals all over the world as a safe over the counter drug to use for most people. It is one of the few drugs given an “A” rating for pregnant and lactating women, is recommended for everything from aches and pains to fever, and is used in age ranges from newborns to those 100+ years old. So what could possibly make this drug dangerous? Like most medications, to much of something can be a bad thing. It is a more and more common reality, especially for those people taking painkillers. In one recent case, the end result was the loss of life. Tylenol, or acetaminophen, is one of, if not the most common drug used by society today. It is available over the counter, and is also in … Continue reading
