Johnson & Johnson says that it is adding red warning alerts to the caps of its Extra Strength Tylenol and the majority of other Tylenol bottles. The warning will make it clear that the over-the-counter medication contains acetaminophen, which is designed to relieve pain but also has become the number one cause of sudden liver failure. The packaging change comes in the wake of government pressure and at least 85 dangerous drug lawsuits.
Million of people take Tylenol every day. The red lettered-caution on the cap is for people who don’t read the warning found in fine print on the drug’s label.
Plaintiffs with Tylenol injury lawsuits contend that the medication is the cause of wrongful death and liver injuries. Many of them believe that the drug maker knew that the drug came with a risk of acute liver failure from overdose and toxicity (even when used properly) but failed to properly warn the public.
Other allegations claim that Tylenol is dangerous and defective, comes with inadequate instructions, labels, and warnings, was over-promoted and improperly tested, and has design defects that make it more dangerous than other pain meds while upping the risk of acute liver failure. Some plaintiffs also say that medical providers did not receive proper instruction and training for how Tylenol is used correctly.
If you or someone you love is suffering from sudden liver failure or acute liver failure after taking Tylenol you may have reason to pursue a drug defect case. Contact our Boston drug injury lawyers today.
Acetaminophen
Many experts say that acetaminophen is safe when used properly, which usually means the consumption of no more than 4,000 milligrams a day. Unfortunately, because people can take as many OTC-acetaminophen pills as they want, going over this amount can be very easy, especially when some large bottles can contain hundreds of pills.
Acetaminophen is found in over 600 over-the-counter products and one in four American adults take drugs with acetaminophen regularly. With Tylenol, a typical dosage of two Extra Strength Tylenol pills includes 1,000 mg of acetaminophen.
Tylenol and Liver Damage
When taking Tylenol, the liver will metabolize, turning the drug into other chemicals. Some allegations contend that a part of Tylenol is converted into NAPQI, a toxin. If a body is creating enough glutathione, then the liver will quickly covert this toxin into a chemical that is non-toxic. Certain patients, however, may find that this toxin may instead accumulate, potentially leading to liver failure.
People who are on certain dietary restrictions or malnourished or taking other drugs with acetaminophen may be at greater risk of liver failure. A lot of patients don’t realize that meds they are already taking include acetaminophen so they may not even be aware that they are risking overdose.
J&J tries new cap to curb fatal Tylenol overdoses, The Boston Globe/AP, August 30, 2013
FDA Group Issues Cautions on Acetaminophen Overdose, ABC News, May 28, 2009
More Blog Posts:
Drug Injury Lawsuits Blame Johnson & Johnson’s Tylenol for Liver Damage, Massachusetts Drug Injury Lawyers Blog, June 13, 2013 Drug recall from Qualitest for oversized pills, Massachusetts Drug Injury Lawyers Blog, September 11, 2012
Woburn, MA Compounding Pharmacy Recalls Drugs After Regulators Find “Foreign Matter” in Vials, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, March 25, 2013