Overdose
Acetaminophen and Accidental Overdoses
About 150 Americans a year die by accidentally taking too much acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. The toll does not have to be so high.
Johnson & Johnson Emerges Victorious in Lawsuit on Tylenol’s Risks
Hundreds of cases are pending that involve claims that Tylenol has caused liver damage and deaths. The pain reliever’s maker won a jury verdict in the first.
New Trial Records: Doctors Recommended Tylenol — But Only at Lower Doses
Internal company documents that have emerged in a New Jersey trial make clear that marketing for Tylenol did not convey doctors’ concerns about its risks.
New Court Docs: Maker of Tylenol Had a Plan to Block Tougher Regulation
Filings from a lawsuit, scheduled to go to trial today in Atlantic City, describe a previously unreported lobbying campaign by McNeil Consumer Healthcare to protect its iconic painkiller.
How Much Acetaminophen a Day is Safe? Canada May Decide It’s Less
After an investigation by the Toronto Star, Canada’s top health agency considers whether to lower the maximum recommended daily dose of the active ingredient in Tylenol and other painkillers.
FDA Opens Review of Rules for Over-the-Counter Drugs, Including Acetaminophen
Federal regulators’ announcement that they will examine the regulation of non-prescription drugs such as acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, follows a ProPublica investigation.
Schumer Calls on Drug Makers to Add Safety Devices to Children’s Medicines Within a Year
Flow restrictors -- safety valves that cost pennies per bottle -- could save thousands of kids from being rushed to emergency rooms each year, but most children’s medications still don’t have them.
Over-The-Counter Pills Left Out of FDA Acetaminophen Limits
Federal drug regulators are moving to enforce a ban on prescription drugs with more than 325 milligrams of acetaminophen. But you’ll still be able to buy pills that contain up to twice that dose over-the-counter at the gas station or grocery store.
The Fix Isn't In: Why a Safety Device That Can Stop Overdoses by Kids Isn't Widely Used
Safety valves that cost pennies per bottle could save thousands of kids from being rushed to emergency rooms each year. A doctor has campaigned to have the devices added to all liquid medicines, but so far he’s had limited success.
A Special Issue of ProPublica’s Magazine
The October issue of ProPublica’s Magazine is out – and it’s a special edition.
Five Consumer Resources From Our Acetaminophen Investigation
Each year, acetaminophen overdose sends as many as 78,000 Americans to the emergency room. We’ve created five consumer resources to help you become more aware of the inherit risks of the pain reliever “hospitals use most.”
Nine Ideas to Make Tylenol and Other Acetaminophen Drugs Safer
Scientists, regulators and manufacturers have come up with numerous proposals that could reduce the toll of deaths and injuries from one of America’s most popular drugs.
Tylenol’s Risks Not Fully Understood, Poll Shows
Most Americans know that overdosing can be dangerous but many wrongly think it’s safe to mix drugs containing acetaminophen, a nationwide poll found.
Dose of Confusion
A mix-up between two Tylenol products threatened a baby’s life. It was an all-too-easy mistake to make – and both the FDA and the Johnson & Johnson unit that makes Tylenol knew it had happened before.
Use Only as Directed
About 150 Americans a year die by accidentally taking too much acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. The toll does not have to be so high.
Behind the Numbers
We explore the data behind figures showing how many people die from overdosing on acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol.
How Much Acetaminophen Are You Taking?
Many common over-the-counter drugs contain acetaminophen. Taking more than one at the same time increases your chance of “double-dipping” -- accidentally overdosing.
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