In a ruling declared on Thurs, the Food and Drug Administration has announced new limitations to painkillers. The brand new limitations will have to do with how much acetaminophen could be blended into narcotic painkillers. Possible acetaminophen overdoses are the reason for this limit. The Food and Drug Administration is going to add additional limitations to the drugs. Article resource - FDA calls for limits on acetaminophen in narcotic drugs by Newsytype.com.
Vicodin ingredient limited by FDA
The amount of acetaminophen in each painkiller capsule is limited with the Food and Drug Administration ruling. The current limit is 700 milligrams per pill. There can’t be more than 325 milligrams per pill with the newest limit. Every little thing from headaches and fever to sore throats are treated with acetaminophen. Acetaminophen is mixed with narcotics in many drugs like Vicodin, Percocet and hydrocodone. When too much acetaminophen is taken, an overdose can occur. This is in narcotic painkillers that patients use with other drugs.
We cannot have standard labeling
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 keep away from overdoses. The restrictions for the amount of the painkiller in prescriptions are likely to be followed up with a boxed warning. A lot of the time acetaminophen is responsible for liver failure. Within the USA, it is the leading cause. About 120 deaths a year from overdoses of the drug is estimates by the FDA.
Anything OTC with acetaminophen
There are limits the FDA is putting down on the amount of painkillers in prescriptions and also the Food and Drug Administration is making sure there are more warnings on boxes. Still, the amounts of drugs that have acetaminophen aren’t being limited. Many over the counter medications, like Tylenol, will still contain acetaminophen above and beyond the 325 milligram limit. High-dose over the counter drugs have up to 500 milligrams per capsule. There was a vote by the FDA in 2009 done. This would have gotten rid of the narcotic/acetaminophen combinations. The FDA, however, has decided to limit the amount of acetaminophen, rather than eliminating the drugs from the market.
Citations
Reuters
reuters.com/article/idUSN1328805720110113