FDA Panel Recommends Sweeping Changes For Tylenol

An FDA panel has been meeting in recent days over concerns about Tylenol (acetaminophen) leading to liver failure. This has always been one of the main concerns with Tylenol, but the large number of overdoses and deaths have prompted the FDA to take action and consider changes with this medication.

Acetaminophen is an ingredient in many medications, from prescription painkillers to cold and cough medications. Any changes could have a significant impact on the pharmaceutical industry and on the patients that rely on them to help with pain and fevers.

This panel does not have the final say over what the FDA will decide, but their recommendations are often followed, as they were recently regarding the use of cold medications in young children.

The panel recommended the following changes regarding the use of acetaminophen:

• Eliminating prescription drugs containing acetaminophen such as Vicodin and Percocet
• Lower the maximum single dosage from 1000 mg to 650 mg
• Lower the maximum daily dosage from 4 grams (they were not asked to and did not recommend an alternate maximum daily dose)
• Make 1000 mg dose of acetaminophen available only by prescription

The panel was also asked to consider whether cough and cold medications containing acetaminophen should be removed from the market but decided against making that recommendation.

Learn more about the FDA panel's decisions regarding Tylenol from About.com's Guide to Neck and Back Pain.