FDA review warns of liver damage risk from acetaminophen

Acetaminophen is back in the news again. A Working Group from the U.S. FDA reviewed scientific literature on the OTC drug and its effects on the liver, preparing a report for an FDA Advisory Committee meeting in late June that will examine the issue. The group's report recommends that specific action steps be implemented by FDA to reduce the occurrence of acetaminophen liver toxicity. One thing would help: teaching consumers how to read the patient package insert and to follow the directions for appropriate use...I have often heard people say that they "downed four or five Tylenol" because they had a bad headache or that they take two tablets every two hours, instead of every four hours. Others combine the pills with other acetaminophen-based products, such as a liquid Tylenol. This misuse/abuse
contributes to some of the side effects we hear reported in these reviews of reported cases of liver toxicity.