Common pain relief drugs doses are too strong

The Food and Drug Administration seems focused on banning prescription painkillers Vicodin and Percocet, which combine acetaminophen with an opiate narcotic. An FDA findings of a new study states the possible risks of this combination exceed the benefit to patients.

An FDA panel put forward concerns over overdoses of the powerful medications. In addition to being present in a number of popular prescription medications, acetaminophen is found in a number of widely used over-the-counter medications, including Tylenol, Excedrin as well as some forms of Robitussin and Vicks.

The panel voted on 10 ways to restrict use of acetaminophen, including reducing the single adult dose and reducing the maximum daily dose of over the counter acetaminophen.

The FDA acknowledges that acetaminophen is an crucial drug used to treat pain and fever in both OTC and RX products and isn’t seeking to remove it from the market.

According to the FDA, more than 28 billion doses of acetaminophen-containing products are bought annually in the U.S., and acetaminophen-hydrocodone combination products have been the most frequently prescribed products for the past 12 years.

It will probably be months before the FDA makes a final judgment on acetaminophen. One panel member said Americans take so much of it that he is surprised they do not have more liver damage.

One Response to “Common pain relief drugs doses are too strong”

1. Bob Harpley says:

   rdAmerica/Chicagop31America/Chicago07bAmerica/ChicagoFri, 03 Jul 2009 10:31:05 -0500 1, 2008 at 10:31 am

   I use Percocet, 10MG/325MG tablets. Two in the morning every other day. Aleve on off days. Percocet is much more effective than Aleve. In a country of more than 150 million people, why punish us for the abuse by 100 thousand or less? The FDA needs a better reason for being, and they should be more involved with badly processed food than kicking pain medication, that works, out of business.