Poisonings From a Popular Pain Reliever Are on the Rise (Tylenol)

NY Times ^ | November 29, 2005 | DEBORAH FRANKLIN

[neverdem]

Despite more than a decade's worth of research showing that taking too much of a popular pain reliever can ruin the liver, the number of severe, unintentional poisonings from the drug is on the rise, a new study reports. The drug, acetaminophen, is best known under the brand name Tylenol. But many consumers don't realize that it is also found in widely varying doses in several hundred common cold remedies and combination pain relievers.

These compounds include Excedrin, Midol Teen Formula, Theraflu, Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine, and NyQuil Cold and Flu, as well as other over-the-counter drugs and many prescription narcotics, like Vicodin and Percocet.

The authors of the study, which is appearing in the December issue of Hepatology, say the combination of acetaminophen's quiet ubiquity in over-the-counter remedies and its pairing with narcotics in potentially addictive drugs like Vicodin and Percocet can make it too easy for some patients to swallow much more than the maximum recommended dose inadvertently.

"It's extremely frustrating to see people come into the hospital who felt fine several days ago, but now need a new liver," said Dr. Tim Davern, one of the authors and a gastroenterologist with the liver transplant program of the University of California at San Francisco. "Most had no idea that what they were taking could have that sort of effect." The numbers of poisonings, however, are still tiny in comparison with the millions of people who use over-the-counter and prescription drugs with acetaminophen.

Dr. Davern and a team of colleagues from other centers led by Dr. Anne Larson at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, tracked the 662 consecutive patients who showed up with acute liver failure at 23 transplant centers across the United States from 1998 to 2003.

Acetaminophen poisoning was to blame in nearly half...

[neverdem]

VICODIN's Active Ingredient are ACETAMINOPHEN and HYDROCODONE BITARTRATE. The Times got the names of the generic ingredients in Percocet correctly, but click on this link to check the various combinations of their dosages.

Drug Name PERCOCET
Active Ingredient(s) • ACETAMINOPHEN; OXYCODONE HYDROCHLORIDE
Form(s) and
Strength(s) Available • TABLET; ORAL:325MG; 10MG ;325MG; 2.5MG ;325MG; 5MG ;325MG; 7.5MG ;500MG; 7.5MG ;650MG; 10MG

There are 9.8 grams of acetaminophen in a 10-ounce bottle of NyQuil, Ms. Gong said. "Everyone really needs to be more aware."

Wow!

[jennyp]

Experts agree that a vast majority of people can safely take the 4-gram daily maximum ... the equivalent of eight Extra Strength Tylenol spread across 24 hours - and some people swallow much more without harm.

But by 8 grams in a single day, a significant number of people whose livers have been stressed by a virus, medication, alcohol or other factors would run into serious trouble, Dr. Lee said. Without intervention, about half the people who swallowed a single dose of 12 to 15 grams could die.

Hmmmm... those are good numbers to remember!

[visualops]

Since Vicodin and Percocet etc are prescriptions, one's doctor should advise on taking OTC medications together with them.
Secondly, people who take multiple OTC medications without reading the label are at risk of of overdoses of more than just acetaminophen.
Thirdly, stuff like this falls into the category of duh!. It has become increasingly common and acceptable for people to not use their brains. Everyone is supposed to be constantly warned about obvious dangers, and when they aren't prevented from making careless mistakes, it someone else's fault.
Taking too much medication has harmful side effects...wow, who'd a thunk it?!

[Freee-dame]

bump

[Condor51]

said Kathy Fallon a spokeswoman; "..Anything more than the recommended dose is an overdose."

Give that woman a cupie doll.