Acetaminophen: the Killer Painkiller

[Guest guest]

----- Forwarded Message ----

Viviane Lerner <vivlerner

 

 

http://www.anh-usa.org/acetaminophen-the-killer-painkiller/

 

Acetaminophen: the Killer Painkiller

March 30, 2010

 

The active ingredient in the painkillers Tylenol, Anacin and Panadol was the

focus of a recent analysis of 19 studies of 425,000 children and adults treated

with acetaminophen in the past year. Children given acetaminophen were 60

percent more likely to suffer from asthma, while adults who had taken the drug

were 75 percent more likely to experience asthma. According to a University of

British Columbia-Vancouver review published in the journal Chest, higher doses

translated to a greater risk of asthma.

The March 2010 issue of the American Journal of Medicine contained an analysis

of data from 26,000 men, participants in the Health Professionals Follow-up

Study. Researchers at Harvard University, Brigham and Women’s Hospital,

Vanderbilt University, and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston,

determined that men younger than 60 who used acetaminophen were 61 percent more

likely to experience hearing loss. Studies appearing in the journal Drug Safety

(2008 Vol 31:pp127-141) have linked acetaminophen to adverse vision events.

 

The U.S. Acute Liver Failure Study Group found that acetaminophen poisoning is

the leading cause of liver failure in the nation, associated with nearly 50

percent of all liver failure . The Life Extension Foundation has also sounded

the alarm about acetaminophen and liver damage.

With 70-75 million prescriptions written annually, acetaminophen is the most

commonly prescribed class of drugs in the United States. It is blamed for 56,000

injuries, 25,000 hospitalizations and 450 deaths. The U.S. Food and Drug

Administration has been aware of this situation for decades. As early as 1977,

the agency warned about acetaminophen and liver damage. The FDA Advisory Review

Panel noted that exceeding the recommended dosage or (please note the or) taking

acetaminophen for more than 10 days puts the patient at risk of liver damage. A

suggestion that pharmacists distribute information explaining the risks of this

drug has fallen on deaf ears at the FDA.

A study published in the journal Arthritis Care and Research cautioned that

adverse reactions to acetaminophen not only affect patients’ quality of life,

they also impose substantial economic burdens on society. Given all that we know

now, how can the FDA remain silent about acetaminophen?

=====

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed

without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the

included information for research and educational purposes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

This is the reason I don't take or even have a product in my home with

tylenol in it. My doctor also knows not to prescribe me anything with

it in it because I will not take it.

 

Elizabeth Brandegee wrote:

>

>

>

>

> ----- Forwarded Message ----

> Viviane Lerner <vivlerner <vivlerner%40gmail.com>>

>

> http://www.anh-usa.org/acetaminophen-the-killer-painkiller/

> <http://www.anh-usa.org/acetaminophen-the-killer-painkiller/>

>

> Acetaminophen: the Killer Painkiller

> March 30, 2010

>

> The active ingredient in the painkillers Tylenol, Anacin and Panadol

> was the focus of a recent analysis of 19 studies of 425,000 children

> and adults treated with acetaminophen in the past year. Children given

> acetaminophen were 60 percent more likely to suffer from asthma, while

> adults who had taken the drug were 75 percent more likely to

> experience asthma. According to a University of British

> Columbia-Vancouver review published in the journal Chest, higher doses

> translated to a greater risk of asthma.

> The March 2010 issue of the American Journal of Medicine contained an

> analysis of data from 26,000 men, participants in the Health

> Professionals Follow-up Study. Researchers at Harvard University,

> Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Vanderbilt University, and the

> Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, determined that men

> younger than 60 who used acetaminophen were 61 percent more likely to

> experience hearing loss. Studies appearing in the journal Drug Safety

> (2008 Vol 31:pp127-141) have linked acetaminophen to adverse vision

> events.

>

> The U.S. Acute Liver Failure Study Group found that acetaminophen

> poisoning is the leading cause of liver failure in the nation,

> associated with nearly 50 percent of all liver failure . The Life

> Extension Foundation has also sounded the alarm about acetaminophen

> and liver damage.

> With 70-75 million prescriptions written annually, acetaminophen is

> the most commonly prescribed class of drugs in the United States. It

> is blamed for 56,000 injuries, 25,000 hospitalizations and 450 deaths.

> The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been aware of this situation

> for decades. As early as 1977, the agency warned about acetaminophen

> and liver damage. The FDA Advisory Review Panel noted that exceeding

> the recommended dosage or (please note the or) taking acetaminophen

> for more than 10 days puts the patient at risk of liver damage. A

> suggestion that pharmacists distribute information explaining the

> risks of this drug has fallen on deaf ears at the FDA.

> A study published in the journal Arthritis Care and Research cautioned

> that adverse reactions to acetaminophen not only affect patients’

> quality of life, they also impose substantial economic burdens on

> society. Given all that we know now, how can the FDA remain silent

> about acetaminophen?

> =====

> In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is

> distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior

> interest in receiving the included information for research and

> educational purposes.

>