Okay guys, so this is a topic I have wrote about before but the problem continues to not only persist, but worsen! It seems this week, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in the US has deemed it necessary to outline the maximum level of Acetominophen doctors should be prescribing/recommending to their patients.
It seems the problem is Acetominophen, the analgesic in Tylenol, is not only available in strong prescription medications to relieve pain, but unfortunately over the counter as well. This makes the drug exceedingly easy to access and thus, take too much of. The FDA is now advising doctors to not prescribe medications where doses could exceed 325 mg. For instance, Acetominophen is found in strong doses in the commonly prescribed; Percoset and Vicodin. Taking too much may cause Liver failure or even death. A pretty sobering thought.
The catch is, acetominophen is very common. Along with the drugs already listed, it is also found in other products you may also use regularly like Robitussin and Sudafed. So let's give you an idea of dosage. The FDA has set the maximum daily limit of
Acetominophen for adults to 4000 milligrams (mg). Wow that sounds like a lot right? Well let's put it this way, one gel tablet of Extra Strength Tylenol, for example, contains 500 mg. So let's do the math. That equals 8 tablets per 24 hour period. In those terms, 4000 mgs doesn't sound like it hard to reach anymore.
Depending on the injury, or severity of pain. it's easy to see how someone may take 2-4 tablets of Extra Strength Tylenol, not achieve the relief they desire and then visit their doctors. The doctor may unknowingly prescribe this patient a very strong pain killer such as Percoset. Hopefully, the patient is advised to use it sparingly. However, if the patient innocently takes the same amount of Percosets as he/she did with the Tylenols, the patient has now endangered certainly their liver and perhaps, their life.
Believe me I am not against the use of Acetominophen, Tylenol or even Percoset in some cases. However. Patients, and especially prescribing doctors, must be aware of dangerous dosage levels and not be so cavalier about 'popping' pills whenever there is pain.
There are alternatives out there for pain and Chiropractic happens to be a great one!
Contact me if you're in the Commercial Drive neighborhood in East Vancouver and let me help you with your pain, naturally!COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIRORPACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC!!!!
