The Food and Drug Administration recommends limiting acetaminophen use

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has been setting in motion it's recommendation to limit acetaminophen to 325mg per tablet/capsule/unit in prescription combination drugs such as Endocet, Percocet and Lortab. According to the FDA, this is in an effort to reduce the risk of an accidental overdose of acetaminophen that can cause severe liver injury, which can lead to liver failure, the need for a liver transplant and death.

I have included several links to articles and documents that will hopefully pique your interest into this apparently controversial topic. One item is briefing materials from McNeil Consumer Healthcare, the manufacturer of Tylenol. Also included is an episode of This American Life that includes interviews with members of the medical community and family members of those affected by acetaminophen overdoses. It will be interesting to see how the medical community; doctors, pharmacist and nursing staff as well as the patient population, react to these proposed changes.

What are your thoughts on the proposed changes and what the current research has shown? How will this affect your practice with regard to medication administration and patient education?

The Food and Drug Administration FDA recommends health care professionals discontinue prescribing and dispensing prescription combination drug products with more than 325 mg of acetaminophen to protect consumers

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm381644.htm

Briefing Materials for June 29-30, 2009 - PDF

Acetaminophen Advisory Committee Meeting McNeil Consumer Healthcare

This American Life, 505: Use Only as Directed

Produced by Chicago Public Media and distributed by Public Radio International

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/505/use-only-as-directed