On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration announced a restriction of the amount of acetaminophen allowed in prescription painkillers, in order to prevent overdosing. The pills were limited to containing no more than 325 milligrams, which is half the dosage many pills contain now. The FDA also required them to show more warnings on their labeling. These efforts will hopefully combat overdosing, common with painkillers containing acetaminophen, an extremely popular drug throughout the world.
Many customers take a certain drug without knowing its acetaminophen content, then take another medication such as Tylenol along with it, leading to overdoses. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage even without overdosing. In June 2009, the FDA’s advisory panel voted to ban the drugs which combine narcotics with acetaminophen. According to experts, a 325 milligram dose does not decrease its ability to relieve pain. Some doctors believe the drug should be banned outright, while others think the slow transition by limiting its potency will prevent patients from taking other, riskier drug combinations.
According to the New York Times, the FDA has yet to decide on how to regulate over-the-counter products. Until then, they say drug manufacturers can choose to lower the dose of acetaminophen in their painkillers voluntarily. As a Riverside personal injury lawyer, I hope these regulations prevent overdoses and that painkillers do not cause as much liver damage. If you or a loved one were harmed due to a banned or recalled medicine, consult with a personal injury attorney Riverside regarding your case.
