Posts Tagged ‘ Acetaminophen ’

Drug Advertising: “Side Effects May Include” MIA – Why?

March 3rd, 2011. By Hunter West

You know all those drug ads on TV, where new drugs for everything from erectile dysfunction to depression, to cholesterol are touted complete with a shopping list of side effects against a backdrop of shiny, happy people dancing in slow motion in the green grass of a city park, or cavorting across an idyllic beachfront? Case in point, Cialis ad at left.

All that damning voiceover information on side effects and adverse reactions can get lost in the visuals (which is probably the plan), but at least the requisite information is there. 

Why did that not happen with Tylenol, and the potential for acetaminophen toxicity? 

Why did that not happen with denture adhesive, and the potential for zinc poisoning? 

Most realize that most drugs have side effects. Fewer realize that all drugs have side effects at all. And the more intense the drug, the longer the list of adverse reactions. When a new drug designed to treat, say, the propensity to have to get up to pee several times in the night for aging Americans comes on the market, manufacturers know that in order to advertise the drug where their constituents are—parked on their sofas, watching television—they have to abide by advertising regulations and include the side effects. 

You may not recall every adverse reaction rattled off in such TV commercials. You may not remember even one. But you are left with the sense that this is serious stuff, and if you’re at Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Acetaminophen, Adverse Events, denture cream, Durg Marketing, Fixodent, Side Effects, tylenol
Posted in Drugs/Medical, Emerging Issues | No Comments »

Children & Acetaminophen Dosing—did Google go to Med school?

July 28th, 2009. By AbiK

Here’s something scary. Type this into Google search: How much Tylenol do I give?—just for the heck of it. I just did. I figured with all the news lately on acetaminophen and the FDA Advisory Panel recommending more stringent warnings on OTC acetaminophen, there must be some worthy sites getting the word out on safe dosing, right?

Here are the 9 links listed on the first page of my search results: 

pediatrics.about.com (they have a dosing “calculator”, then tell you to check the answer with your doctor)

plateaupediatrics.com (a local pediatrician’s office in TN)

wiki.answers.com (yes, those pages where anyone can contribute info)

abcnews.go.com (ok, it has a video of a doctor answering the question)

thelaboroflove.com (a having babies site—and I’m having to work too hard for an “about us” page)

fda.gov (it doesn’t give the answer to my question, but at least it’s from the FDA)

answers.yahoo.com (to date, the “best answer” by voters is from a user named “Courage”; No, I’m not kidding.) Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Acetaminophen
Posted in Drugs/Medical | 2 Comments »

Acetaminophen Hide and Seek

July 13th, 2009. By AbiK

Interesting how my local Rite-Aid has magnifying glasses on display in the “Analgesics” aisle—the one where you find acetaminophen. It’s either a brilliant marketing ploy or the result of some merchandiser’s sense of humor. Why? If you’re trying to actually read the medication ingredient lists—the ones in mice type—you can’t, so that magnifier can come in mighty handy. 

Now add on the state of mind you’re typically in when you’re tooling down the drugstore aisle in search of acetaminophen. Your eyes are most likely darting across those shelves in search of a red box with maybe some white lettering on a slant (Tylenol). Maybe also a big “E” on a green box (Excedrin). If it’s a bad sinus day, let’s throw in a flash of hot pink (Benadryl). And before you know it there’s an acetaminophen party going on in your little shopping basket. 

It’s a no-brainer to monitor acetaminophen doses when Nurse Betty hands you 2 Tylenol tablets in a Dixie cup during a hospital stay, right? Sure, you want more—or an I.V. drip, and it’s a prayer in you-know-what you’ll get it. But Nurse Betty isn’t with you in the Rite-Aid, is she?

And that’s where the trouble can start. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Acetaminophen, tylenol, Vicodin
Posted in Drugs/Medical, Emerging Issues, Personal Injury | No Comments »

Acetaminophen: Whatever Happened to Personal Responsibility?

July 1st, 2009. By AbiK

I’m feeling a bit like news anchor Howard Beale in the movie Network—when he’s mad as you-know-what and not going to take it anymore. Yesterday’s report on the FDA panel that voted to eliminate Vicodin and Percocet is one thing—they’re controlled substances and many times when you’re given or prescribed them you’re in no condition to care about potential risks. You just want a glass of water and pill-in-hand, thank you. So I’ve got no issue with big brother keeping a watchful eye here if risks are outweighing benefits.

But, when the FDA panel starts going off on OTC acetaminophen to the extent where it is recommending dosage limits (i.e., reducing the amount of active ingredient per pill) and suggesting that the current OTC dose—1,000 mg (2 pills at 500 mg each)—be available only by prescription, it’s time to raise an eyebrow.

Here’s the thing. As msnbc.com reported the FDA panel vote yesterday it said, “The FDA convened the two-day meeting to ask experts to discuss and vote on a slew of proposals to reduce overdoses with acetaminophen.” 

Keyword: OVERDOSES. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Acetaminophen, liver damage, percocet, tylenol, Vicodin
Posted in Emerging Issues | 1 Comment »