Johnson and Johnson put into practice the old saying that “Honesty is the best policy”. In a time when many companies are struggling to Johnson and Johnson has made an announcement that will cost them millions of dollars.
Johnson and Johnson came forward and recalled its products containing Tylenol (acetaminophen) The recall is not related to contamination but a reduction in the recommended daily dosage limit.
Tylenol is part of hundreds of prescription and over the counter drugs. While it has been suspected that Tylenol use contributed to kidney damage and liver failure. It has been monitored in hospitals and other healthcare facilities for a few years. It was necessary for nurses to document, on the medications sheets the total mg of Tylenol given with in a 24 hour period. Doctors usually wrote the order for Tylenol containing medications not to exceed 4000 mg of acetaminophen in a 24 hour period. Safe guards in the facilities insisted on compliance.
A link was made between large doses of acetaminophen and liver damage, but it takes time for verify the facts and chose a course of action.
The dose recommended 24 hr dose limit has been reduced to 3000mgm.
It was a common practice to prescribe a narcotic for moderate to sever pain and Tylenol in between for pain control. This is an area that also needs to be monitored. the combination of the amount of Acetaminophen in combination with a narcotics or other medications can easily exceed the limi
There are many people who do not take the dosage on the Tylenol containers as being serious. It surprised people when they are told that any thing that alters the any function in the body is considered a poison. This makes all medications a poison with side effects and benefits. It is the benefit to risk ratio that decides which medication the doctor will order.
Most medications affect every cell in the body. A pain medication passes thought the the gastrointestinal system which includes the liver and. it goes through the circulatory system interacts with the nervous system to relieve the pain and eventually is excreted through the kidneys.. The liver takes longer to be metabolized Tylenol and over time total dosage over 3000mgm, can cause liver failure. Liver failure is not something easy to deal with. A liver transplant maybe necessary.
Prevention is the best mode of action avoid a problem Johnson and Johnson is voluntarily doing what they can to make people aware of the potential for damage and a means of keeping the dosages within a safe level. The rest is up to the public and the doctors who prescribe medications.
Plain and simple the recommended dose limits can be maintained by changing the frequency of doses from every 6 hours to every 8 hours. An example would be the old dose of Tylenol Extra Strength. When taking 1000mgm ever 6 hrs for a total of 4000 mg every 24 hrs. The new recommendation says you can still take (2) tables of 500 mg but take them every 8 hours changes limits to 3000mgm in 24 hours which is the recommended limit.
Changes in direction for children s dosage and the directions should be checked with your doctor. Any time there is a question about a medication, please call your doctor or pharmacist.
A new universal label will be placed on all drugs containing Tylenol to prevent taking more then the recommended limit. Please remember many prescription medications and OTC over the counter drugs contain Tylenol when used in combination must be included in the the 24 hr total,
I have obtained a list of drugs that contain Tylenol for your convenience. Because of the length of this list of drugs I have enclosed a separate link.
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm