FRIDAY, Feb. 23, 2007 (HealthDay News) -- Most Americans are not aware of the dangers associated with the popular prescription and over-the-counter pain reliever acetaminophen, U.S. researchers report.
Acetaminophen is found in Tylenol, many combination pain and cold medications, and a number of prescription drugs, including Vicodin, Darvocet, Tylox, Percocet and Lorcet.
Excessive use of acetaminophen, whether it be a large single dose or long-term overuse, can lead to severe liver damage that may require a liver transplant or cause death. In fact, acetaminophen overdose is now the most common cause of acute liver failure in the United States.
This study, which appears in the January/February issue of the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, surveyed 104 patients who were visiting a general internal medicine clinic at the University of Michigan Health System.
While a large percentage of the respondents reported using acetaminophen in the past six months, almost none could identify the maximum dose of either regular or extra-strength preparations of the drug.
More than 60 percent of the patients stated that they had never received or weren't sure they had received information about the possible dangers of high doses of acetaminophen.
Over half of the respondents were unsure what problems might arise as a result of acetaminophen overdosing, and just 43 percent correctly responded that liver damage could be a consequence of acetaminophen overdosing.
The survey respondents also had trouble identifying which medications contain acetaminophen.
According to the study's co-author Janice Stumpf, a clinical associate professor in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Michigan, these findings emphasize the need for better patient education.
"The community pharmacist is in an ideal position to provide education on the safe use of acetaminophen whenever an acetaminophen-containing prescription product is dispensed," she said in a prepared statement.
It is important to read non-prescription drug labels carefully and be aware of the potential hazards of overdosing on a medication. Patients should be aware of which medications contain acetaminophen and avoid taking multiple acetaminophen-containing products together.
More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about chronic pain medicines.
