The Checkup

Health in the News and in Your Life

Acetaminophen Worries

The Food and Drug Administration is pondering what to do about the painkiller in Tylenol, Excedrin, Vicodin, Percocet and many other drugs commonly used to treat pains and fevers. That's after an FDA panel called for sweeping changes last week at the conclusion of a two-day meeting to review the safety of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in those drugs.

Acetaminophen is generally very safe and effective, but in excess doses it can cause liver failure. And because acetaminophen is so common -- more than 24 billion doses were sold last year in the United States -- even rare side effects can add up to a lot of problems. The FDA estimates that more than 400 people die each year from overdoses and thousands more are hospitalized.

While the FDA usually follows the advice of its advisory panels, it doesn't have to. In the meantime, officials say consumers should reduce the chances of complications by paying careful attention to how much acetaminophen they are taking.

-- Rob Stein

jkbarden wrote:

I am nearly 70 years old and was seriously injured 20 years ago in an industrial accident. I take both Percocet and Vicodin and lead a fairly normal, pain-free life. I do not know what will happen to me if these marvelous, safe products are pulled.