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A 17-year-old cross-country runner died last week due to an accidental overdose of the drug methyl salicylate, the active ingredient in the Bengay as well as anti-inflammatory adhesive pads and a third over-the-counter (OTC) product she was using. Arielle Newman of Staten Island had reportedly been using all three products at the same time as she competed in running meets. The overdose of methyl salicylate, an aspirin-like anti-inflammatory agent that is also the active ingredient in aspirin, caused her death.

Poisoning from Topical Products

Although this OTC overdose seems like a rare occurrence, topical preparations are the seventh most common category of substances involved in poisoning, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) in Washington, D.C. The AAPCC stated that in 2005, poison control centers in the U.S. reported 109,831 exposures related to topical substances, and 14 Americans died from skin exposure to a toxic substance.

Inadequate Warnings

Methyl salicylate is an anti-clotting agent that at high-enough doses can cause internal bleeding, cardiac arrhythmias, liver problems, and more. Many, perhaps most, consumers are not aware that a topically applied skin cream might have an agent such as methyl salicylate in it. Indeed, as noted by Dr. Gerard Varlotta, the director of sports rehabilitation at the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine in New York City, "If you look at all of these [OTC] products, you cannot tell anything from the outside of the box." Regarding the Bengay that Arielle Newman used, "There's nothing in big letters that says that it contains aspirin…It's in the fine print."

Using Multiple Products Simultaneously

Many people also do not recognize the potential danger in using multiple products together, as Arielle Newman did. The combination of products may add up to dosages of active agents that can do serious harm to the body, or to combinations of drugs that are dangerous. The warning labels on products, whether oral or topical preparations or in another form, should advise consumers of the dangers of combining the product with other medicines.

A Mother's Wish

Despite the medical examiner's report detailing lethal amounts of methyl salicylate in Arielle Newman's blood at the time of her death, Arielle's mother, Alice Newman, said that her daughter "wasn't using any more than the recommended" dosage. She also stated that she feels that the labeling and directions on muscle creams such as Bengay need to be changed, and that such muscle creams should be prescription medications.

(Source: www.forbes.com; www.washingtonpost.com)

Have you experienced a serious medical problem after taking an over-the-counter product? Contact an experienced product liability attorney to discuss your case.