Popular painkillers may be banned because of acetaminophen on clarkhoward.com

In May, Clark told you that an advisory panel was being convened by the FDA to address the question of how to label products that contain acetaminophen.

Well, that panel has come back and recommended a ban on Percocet and Vicodin, which combine narcotics with acetaminophen. Exactly what the FDA will do with this recommendation remains unclear.

Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in a seemingly benign dose of Tylenol. However, the dangers of liver failure and death associated with unintended large doses of acetaminophen are well documented.

It's particularly dangerous when you have flu symptoms and take a cold remedy that contains acetaminophen (such as Nyquil, for example) with a couple of Tylenol in addition to that. The combo can be truly deadly. In fact, acetaminophen is the leading cause of liver failure.

So be alert and wary of the problem with medications that have acetaminophen in them.

Tylenol may get a black box warning as a result of the panel's recommendations. Know that the people at Tylenol are not in any way trying to harm the public. It's just one of those things where they built a famous name brand around a substance that now has a big, red target on it.

What others are saying

Acetaminophen & Drugs
Nixon started the 'War on Drugs' and it has been a waiste of time and money. Half our prisons are filled with non-violents offenders. All drugs should be legalized to put the street dealers out of business and release from prison most of the non-violent offensers to reduce government spending.
By Sailor33 @ 07/17/09 12:28:42 PMreport abuse
banned drugs
Vicodin and any other name which includes hydrocodone should be banned.Hydrocodone and oxycodone are the most prescribed and abused drugs on the market. Rehab clinics are full of people trying to wean off of these drugs.
By Jim Moon @ 07/14/09 10:42:38 AMreport abuse
why ban the meds?
These medications can be made w/out acetaminophen in them as well-they don't need to ban them (I believe there is a new version of Vicodin w/ibuprofen instead?). Acet. is in them not only for the benefits but also b/c abusers can't crush up & snort (although users know how to separate). Just went thru an extended illness w/my husband, on Percocet/Vicodin for 3 weeks. He's a big guy-even taking the prescribed amount didn't get rid of his pain, but acc. to info out, was enough to cause liver damage. Drs. were reluctant to prescribe anything else, but they'd admit him to hosp & give him morphine? Doesn't make sense.
By at2002 @ 07/13/09 09:59:17 PMreport abuse
disguised kid's vitamins
My Granddaughter found the "GUMMY BEAR VITAMIN" vitamin bottle (she is 5). When it was discovered she had had the bottle, she couldn't remember how many she had. She said 40, then 10. We ended up taking her to the ER. She was observed and we were told that if they had contained iron, her stomach would have to be pumped. She has to drink alot of liquids and no vitamins for quite awhile, since A and E are stored in the body.
Why do children's pills of any kind have to be made to look like and taste like the candy that is on the market. Our Angel could have died. She thought it was candy. Her Mom had them up in the kitchen cabinet but she decided she wanted some 'candy.'
Clark, what can we do to change this marketing program?
By Sara Westbrook @ 07/13/09 02:57:29 PMreport abuse
meds
After back surgery I became addicted to narcotics. I am now clean of them. I have found an over the counter pain med called PERCOGESIC in the RED/WHITE box. It keeps me comfortable. It is acetaminophen. I take it as directed. I think the FDA should stay out of our business of managing our health.
By Sara Westbrook @ 07/13/09 02:48:18 PMreport abuse
tylenol
So because some people are too ill informed to read the label and follow the directions another useful drug becomes more regulated, i.e. more expensive!
By Marp @ 07/07/09 10:44:28 AMreport abuse
Darvocet?
What about a pain killer called "Darvocet"?
By Jerry @ 07/02/09 01:45:49 PMreport abuse
Acetaminophen-Epedra
"they" pulled ephedra products off the shelves, and made it illegal to obtain after only a handful of deaths, due to people abusing the product.of course the drug companies weren't profiting from the product, so making it illegal wouldn't create a financial crisis as much as making Acetaminophen illegal, or only obtainable with a prescription.
By hawkphann @ 07/02/09 01:25:43 PMreport abuse
Acetaminophen overuse
I handle disability claims. I have seen many, many people suffer liver damage due to long term use of seemingling benign doses of Vicoden over extended periods of time. I don't think pulling the product is the answer. I think better medical control is the answer.
By Chirple @ 07/02/09 12:03:35 PMreport abuse
Acetaminophen / Liver Damage
I don't understand the concern over this. All chemicals cause liver, kidney and or heart disease. Maybe people should read the information document that is supplied with all drugs (chemicals). This isn't just acetaminophen it is all of them. Listen to the commercials closer next time. You'll hear things like such and such people shouldn't take this. If you have such and such this might happen. This goes for all chemicals. Remember, if you can't eat it don't put it on your skin.
By GJ @ 07/02/09 11:01:11 AMreport abuse
Acetaminophen
If you NEED to take more than 8 Extra Strength Tylenol per day you have bigger problems than just liver damage.
By Rich in Atl. @ 07/02/09 10:03:05 AMreport abuse
Acetaminophen
I just wanted to let you know that I have had to take "Vicodin" over the past 3 years due to injuries I received in a car crash. I have blood tests done annually to check my liver and it is good. I also take a natural product called "Milk Thistle" which helps cleanse the liver. I also do not use it like candy.
By Jennie in Anchorage, Alaska @ 07/02/09 01:19:01 AMreport abuse
Acetaminophen
Clark,
I'm a medical student. I'm glad you're distributing this useful information about acetaminophen overdose. It's important for consumers to know that other mixtures (like NyQuil, vicodin, and theraflu)) can contain acetaminophen (Tylenol) and that overdoses are very dangerous. That being said, when taken as recommended (less than 4 grams per day total or less than 8 extra strength Tylenol per day), Tylenol is VERY safe, perhaps one of the safer pain relievers.
My point is, that your comment that you all avoid it altogether is extreme. NSAIDS like ibuprofen (Advil), aspirin, and naproxen(Aleve) have a side effect profile also.
By Mikhail @ 07/01/09 09:36:06 PMreport abuse
Tylenol
When I was in high school, I was willing to take responsibiltiy for the Tylenol I took in case the poisooner got me. People can make their own determinations. They can also read labels. If they can't, the meds should be locked away from them. This is just nuts.
By Leigh @ 07/01/09 08:45:35 PMreport abuse
Dangerous Idiots
This goes back to: How do you save people from being idiots?! OF COURSE if you take too much it will burn up your liver!...but everything else is the same too!
By TC @ 07/01/09 05:05:00 PMreport abuse

Acetaminophen & Drugs

Nixon started the 'War on Drugs' and it has been a waiste of time and money. Half our prisons are filled with non-violents offenders. All drugs should be legalized to put the street dealers out of business and release from prison most of the non-violent offensers to reduce government spending.

By Sailor33 @ 07/17/09 12:28:42 PMreport abuse

banned drugs

Vicodin and any other name which includes hydrocodone should be banned.Hydrocodone and oxycodone are the most prescribed and abused drugs on the market. Rehab clinics are full of people trying to wean off of these drugs.

By Jim Moon @ 07/14/09 10:42:38 AMreport abuse

why ban the meds?

These medications can be made w/out acetaminophen in them as well-they don't need to ban them (I believe there is a new version of Vicodin w/ibuprofen instead?). Acet. is in them not only for the benefits but also b/c abusers can't crush up & snort (although users know how to separate). Just went thru an extended illness w/my husband, on Percocet/Vicodin for 3 weeks. He's a big guy-even taking the prescribed amount didn't get rid of his pain, but acc. to info out, was enough to cause liver damage. Drs. were reluctant to prescribe anything else, but they'd admit him to hosp & give him morphine? Doesn't make sense.

By at2002 @ 07/13/09 09:59:17 PMreport abuse

disguised kid's vitamins

My Granddaughter found the "GUMMY BEAR VITAMIN" vitamin bottle (she is 5). When it was discovered she had had the bottle, she couldn't remember how many she had. She said 40, then 10. We ended up taking her to the ER. She was observed and we were told that if they had contained iron, her stomach would have to be pumped. She has to drink alot of liquids and no vitamins for quite awhile, since A and E are stored in the body.
Why do children's pills of any kind have to be made to look like and taste like the candy that is on the market. Our Angel could have died. She thought it was candy. Her Mom had them up in the kitchen cabinet but she decided she wanted some 'candy.'
Clark, what can we do to change this marketing program?

By Sara Westbrook @ 07/13/09 02:57:29 PMreport abuse

meds

After back surgery I became addicted to narcotics. I am now clean of them. I have found an over the counter pain med called PERCOGESIC in the RED/WHITE box. It keeps me comfortable. It is acetaminophen. I take it as directed. I think the FDA should stay out of our business of managing our health.

By Sara Westbrook @ 07/13/09 02:48:18 PMreport abuse

tylenol

So because some people are too ill informed to read the label and follow the directions another useful drug becomes more regulated, i.e. more expensive!

By Marp @ 07/07/09 10:44:28 AMreport abuse

Darvocet?

What about a pain killer called "Darvocet"?

By Jerry @ 07/02/09 01:45:49 PMreport abuse

Acetaminophen-Epedra

"they" pulled ephedra products off the shelves, and made it illegal to obtain after only a handful of deaths, due to people abusing the product.of course the drug companies weren't profiting from the product, so making it illegal wouldn't create a financial crisis as much as making Acetaminophen illegal, or only obtainable with a prescription.

By hawkphann @ 07/02/09 01:25:43 PMreport abuse

Acetaminophen overuse

I handle disability claims. I have seen many, many people suffer liver damage due to long term use of seemingling benign doses of Vicoden over extended periods of time. I don't think pulling the product is the answer. I think better medical control is the answer.

By Chirple @ 07/02/09 12:03:35 PMreport abuse

Acetaminophen / Liver Damage

I don't understand the concern over this. All chemicals cause liver, kidney and or heart disease. Maybe people should read the information document that is supplied with all drugs (chemicals). This isn't just acetaminophen it is all of them. Listen to the commercials closer next time. You'll hear things like such and such people shouldn't take this. If you have such and such this might happen. This goes for all chemicals. Remember, if you can't eat it don't put it on your skin.

By GJ @ 07/02/09 11:01:11 AMreport abuse

Acetaminophen

If you NEED to take more than 8 Extra Strength Tylenol per day you have bigger problems than just liver damage.

By Rich in Atl. @ 07/02/09 10:03:05 AMreport abuse

I just wanted to let you know that I have had to take "Vicodin" over the past 3 years due to injuries I received in a car crash. I have blood tests done annually to check my liver and it is good. I also take a natural product called "Milk Thistle" which helps cleanse the liver. I also do not use it like candy.

By Jennie in Anchorage, Alaska @ 07/02/09 01:19:01 AMreport abuse

Clark,
I'm a medical student. I'm glad you're distributing this useful information about acetaminophen overdose. It's important for consumers to know that other mixtures (like NyQuil, vicodin, and theraflu)) can contain acetaminophen (Tylenol) and that overdoses are very dangerous. That being said, when taken as recommended (less than 4 grams per day total or less than 8 extra strength Tylenol per day), Tylenol is VERY safe, perhaps one of the safer pain relievers.
My point is, that your comment that you all avoid it altogether is extreme. NSAIDS like ibuprofen (Advil), aspirin, and naproxen(Aleve) have a side effect profile also.

By Mikhail @ 07/01/09 09:36:06 PMreport abuse

Tylenol

When I was in high school, I was willing to take responsibiltiy for the Tylenol I took in case the poisooner got me. People can make their own determinations. They can also read labels. If they can't, the meds should be locked away from them. This is just nuts.

By Leigh @ 07/01/09 08:45:35 PMreport abuse

Dangerous Idiots

This goes back to: How do you save people from being idiots?! OF COURSE if you take too much it will burn up your liver!...but everything else is the same too!

By TC @ 07/01/09 05:05:00 PMreport abuse

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Jul 01, 2009 -- Popular painkillers may be banned because of acetaminophen

What others are saying