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Limits planned for medications which includes acetaminophen
New restrictions on painkilling drugs are due to be implemented. The FDA announced this ruling on Thursday. The new limits can have to do with how much acetaminophen can be blended into narcotic painkillers. Possible acetaminophen overdoses are the reason for this limit. The FDA is going to add additional limitations to the drugs. Resource for this article - FDA calls for limits on acetaminophen in narcotic drugs by Newsytype.com.
FDA orders limits on Vicodin component
The ruling the Food and Drug Administration came out with limits the amount of acetaminophen. Each painkiller capsule has a limit. About 700 milligrams per pill is the limit right now. There is a new limit changing that though. It can be 325 milligrams per pill now. You will find a lot of things that acetaminophen treats. It consists of headaches, sore throats and fevers. Drugs like Vicodin, Percocet and hydrocodone generics mix acetaminophen with narcotics. Many narcotic painkillers also contain acetaminophen, but many patients might take additional acetaminophen, causing an overdose.
Standard labeling should not happen
The lack of standard labeling causes the acetaminophen limitation a bit. APAP is an example of one way acetaminophen is labeled on pills. You will find other abbreviations used too. This lack of standard labeling practice means it is tough for patients to avoid overdoses. The restrictions for the amount of the painkiller in prescriptions are likely to be followed up with a boxed warning. Acetaminophen is the leading reason for liver failure within the USA. According to the FDA, about 120 deaths a year happen from overdoses of the drug. That is a lot of deaths.
Acetaminophen in over the counter drugs
You will find limits the FDA is putting down on the amount of painkillers in prescriptions and the FDA is making sure you will find more warnings on boxes. Still, the amounts of drugs that have acetaminophen aren’t being limited. Tylenol is an example of over the counter drug that has acetaminophen over the 325 milligram limit still. There are numerous of them. Up to 500 milligrams per capsule can be within the high-dose OTC drugs. There was a vote by the Food and Drug Administration in 2009 done. This would have gotten rid of the narcotic/acetaminophen combinations. Rather than eliminating the drugs totally, the FDA decided it is better to limit the amount of acetaminophen.
Citations
Reuters
reuters.com/article/idUSN1328805720110113