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Use caution taking acetaminophen
By Dr. Sanjay Gupta
(CNN) -- I am not trying to scare anyone but when I heard news this week that even acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) was undergoing scrutiny, I could just hear the groans. Federal health officials believe nearly 100 people in the United States die from acetaminophen abuse every year. It is one of the most common substances reported to poison centers because of overdose. Here are a few things to keep in mind. The extra-strength tablets are 500 mg each. Eight tablets equal 4 grams -- which could be enough to cause serious injury to your liver. Taking 20 tablets can lead to liver failure and even death. If you have a history of liver disease, hepatitis or alcoholism, acetaminophen may not be the best painkiller for you. This does not only apply to Tylenol but also to hundreds of substances that contain acetaminophen. If you are taking several medications at once, the acetaminophen levels can build up. Also, keep in mind that recommended doses are lower for children and even lower for toddlers. As I said, I am not trying to scare you; tens of millions take acetaminophen every year for relief from headaches and fevers -- without any troubles. But you should always read the labels on any medication -- and keep reading "The Pulse," my weekly column on the week's top health and medical news. Here are other stories making headlines this week. Shortage of vaccines for childrenVaccines for our children have been in short supply -- some are even being rationed. A new government report says this puts the health of all children at risk and increases the chances for diseases such as chicken pox and measles to spread. The report says that while some of the problems that led to the shortage have been fixed, the supply of vaccines is still vulnerable and easily disrupted because there are very few vaccine manufacturers and certain vaccines can take more than a year to make. Click here to read Elizabeth Cohen's report on the vaccine shortage and solutions proposed by the General Accounting Office. Deceptive ads for diet productsThe Federal Trade Commission is urging Americans to look skeptically at ads that promise quick weight loss. A study of 300 ads from TV, magazines and other media showed that more than half of these ads included a claim that was very likely false or unproven. In another sign that the FTC is cracking down on misleading ads, the agency charged the Canadian-based company Bio Lab with deceiving consumers by using false advertising for its products Quick Slim and Cellu-Fight. Americans spend more than $5 billion annually on weight-loss efforts, according to FTC Chairman Timothy Muris. Click here for more information on the report.
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