Tylenol manufacturer Johnson & Johnson has recently updated the cap on bottles of Tylenol to read “CONTAINS ACETAMINOPHEN / ALWAYS READ THE LABEL”. The updated cap will begin appearing on Extra Strength Tylenol this October and other versions of Tylenol soon after.
Updating the label is a step in the right direction for the company as lawsuits have been mounting against the manufacturer for failing to properly warn users about the potential dangers associated with acetaminophen.
Acetaminophen is a painkiller used in Tylenol that can accumulate in the body and causes acute liver damage, potentially failure, if ingested in too high of an amount over too short a period of time.
“The dangers of overdosing on acetaminophen are very real,” commented Megan McBride, an attorney with the Levin Papantonio Law Firm who is currently investigating Tylenol lawsuits. “Each year tens of thousands of people are sent to emergency rooms across the nation to be treated for injuries coming from Tylenol overdose.”
While Tylenol is not the only drug that contains acetaminophen, it is one of the most widely distributed. The hidden danger of acetaminophen overdose and its ties to liver failure serve to compound the dangers associated with Tylenol.
For most individuals, it is advised to take no more than 3,000 milligrams of Tylenol per day. More than that amount and an individual runs the risk of acute liver damage and liver failure. Acetaminophen’s presence in over 600 different products further complicates the average consumer’s ability to accurately track how much they have consumed at a given time.
“Johnson & Johnson has been aware of the risk of liver damage to individuals taking its products,” Ms. McBride continued. “They have failed to warn of this risk for too many years resulting in thousands overdosing on acetaminophen.“
The updated labels hitting stores this October will hopefully draw the attention of individuals purchasing Tylenol and warn them from consuming too much acetaminophen in too short a period of time.
Joshua is a writer and researcher with Ring of Fire.
