Warning Labels Urged on Acetaminophen Bottles

The Associated Press

Friday, September 20, 2002

Silver Spring, MD - Federal scientists urged stronger warning labels Thursday on every bottle of acetaminophen, based on evidence that thousands of Americans may unwittingly take toxic doses that could harm their livers. 

     "You cannot allow more innocent men, women and children to suffer, " Kate Trunk, whose 23-year-old son Marcus was one of about 100 people thought to die every year from unintentional overdoses, told a a panel of Food and Drug Administration advisers. The FDA panel voted 21-1 to back her call for more warnings about the risk.

     Some 100 million people a year take acetaminophen. Although best known by the Tylenol brand, acetaminophen is in almost 200 different branded and generic products. Acetaminophen bottles currently recommend taking no more than 4 grams a day, or eight extra-strength pills, and to seek help for overdoses. 

    Unintentional overdoses can destroy the liver. Consumers often swallow a few extra pills in hopes of faster pain relief, falsely thinking it's safe enough to push the dose.