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drug_recall acetaminophenAcetaminophen is the generic name for Tylenol and an ingredient contained in over 200 medications. Normally considered a safe symptom reliever, acetaminophen overdose can occur. Since Tylenol and other acetaminophen containing products are used for common symptom relief such as pain, fever, coughs, and colds, it may be easy to accidentally suffer an acetaminophen overdose by failing to realize the safe amount of medication that can be used.
A statement made on behalf of The American Liver Foundation felt accidental acetaminophen overdoses can occur by taking more than the recommended dose and by using the drugs for more days than the label states is safe. Some consumers may believe a greater dose of the pain reliever will lead to a feeling of higher relief, but this belief can be a dangerous factor in suffering an acetaminophen overdose.
The way present marketing practices are can also lead to acetaminophen overdose according to the liver group. Since Tylenol and other acetaminophen containing products can be found in varying strengths, an acetaminophen overdose can occur if the consumer takes the same amount of an extra strength formula as the regular strength. Acetaminophen is the most common cause of drug-induced liver failure, making an acetaminophen overdose especially dangerous.
In 1999, 141 deaths were attributed to acetaminophen overdose. Many of the deaths were considered intentional overdoses and lead the FDA to discuss possible ways of reducing acetaminophen overdoses. The Public Citizen consumer group made a statement on acetaminophen related safety issues before the non-prescription drugs advisory committee in September 2002, stating there had been almost double the number of epidemic fatal acetaminophen associated poisonings from 1976 to 1999.