FDA voting today on whether or not to pull some APAP-containing cold medications

[wellwell]

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Members don't see this ad.

Apparently, they want to pull some of the Nyquil-types because people often take other APAP products with them, sometimes resulting in overdose. Not sure that I really agree with this, your opinions?

FDA panel to vote on painkiller restrictions
By MATTHEW PERRONE – 10 hours ago
ADELPHI, Md. (AP) — Government experts are scheduled to vote on whether Nyquil and other combination cold medications should be pulled from the market to help curb deadly overdoses.

The Food and Drug Administration has assembled more than 35 experts for a two-day meeting to discuss and vote on ways to prevent overdose with acetaminophen — the pain-relieving, fever-reducing ingredient in Tylenol and dozens of other prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Despite years of educational campaigns and other federal actions, acetaminophen remains the leading cause of liver failure in the U.S., sending 56,000 people to the emergency room annually, according to the FDA. There are about 200 acetaminophen-related deaths each year.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iAaMZR2NEacGDWrzy-QZLjoLO7wQD994P0P83

 

[johnep34]

Control in UK is by limiting pack size to ordinary outlets to 16 tabs (no 500 packs as at Sams!)

Pharmacy pack size is 32. Up to 100 may be sold under pharmacist supervision.

Deaths took dramatic plunge.
johnep

 

[Pianopooh]

Update on FDA voting -- black box warning for APAP combination medications.

Source: http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/PublicHealth/14922

 

[dgroulx]

The ban would have sucked for people with mild-moderate pain. There would have been no Darvocet, Vicodin, Lortab, Norco, Percocet, Tylox. Vicoprofen sales would have skyrocketed.