WDBJ7 Roanoke News and Weather NRV Lynchburg Danville | FDA examines key ingredient in pain killers
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Tylenol is something many of us take to battle stomach bugs and relieve headaches. But one of the drug's key ingredients is facing new scrutiny from the Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA is worried about the number of people who overdose, even die, from taking too much acetaminophen. Those concerns could lead to the drug being less available, even banned in some forms.
Tom Morris counts a lot of pills at Gretna Drug. Ones that contain acetaminophen are the most popular.
"That's the safest drug for pregnant women. For children, it's just like any medication, you have to take it moderately," said Morris.
The FDA says some are ignoring that warning. They've watched thousands get sick and hundreds die every year from acetaminophen overdoses. Those overdoses are the leading cause of liver damage in America.
Morris says the addictive nature of pain killers is what gets patients in trouble.
"Their body gets immune to it and they start taking six or eight a day and even more. I've heard of people taking up to 15 a day," said Morris.
That's why an advisory committee wants the FDA to eliminate certain "prescription" pain killers altogether, mainly ones that combine with acetaminophen.
The FDA may also change the recommended dosage for over-the-counter drugs like Tylenol.
Right now, the FDA says you shouldn't take more than eight Tylenol in one day, but they're thinking about lowering that limit because eight caplets may be too much acetaminophen for your body to handle.
"You can get in trouble real fast and it actually starts to destroy the liver," said Morris.
Deadly side effects aside, Morris says acetaminophen and pain killers shouldn't be feared.
"If you take it like the doctor says, you're fine," said Morris.
He doesn't think banning certain pain killers is the answer to stopping overdoses.
"They just need to lower the dose of acetaminophen that's in the doses, because if they've just had surgery, they tend to take more," said Morris.
Banning certain pain killers is just a recommendation at this point. The FDA may decide the changes aren't necessary.
