Last week, the BBC reported on new research conducted by Edinburgh University that illustrated the dangers of paracetamol. Paracetamol is more commonly known as acetaminophen in the United States, and is found in many over-the-counter and prescription drugs, such as Tylenol.
The study found 161 cases of "staggered overdose" at its hospital over a 16 year period. Staggered means that the overdose and resulting liver failure occurs as a result of taking acetaminophen over time, perhaps during a period of weeks or months. Our firm is very familiar with acetaminophen overdoses as we’ve been handled cases like these for over a decade. However, the majority of the cases we see involve victims that have taken too much acetaminophen over a relatively short period of time. (e.g. hours or a day or two.)
The research also noted two other interesting findings:
1. Patients who sustain a staggered overdose tend to fare worse than those than those that have taken a larger "one-time" overdose.
2. Staggered overdoses are more difficult to recognize because blood tests don’t show the very high levels of acetaminophen usually found in conventional overdoses.
Our firm is encouraged to see more and more research on acetaminophen overdoses, and the dangers of taking Tylenol and similar drugs. We do, however, believe that the warnings from the manufacturers of acetaminophen drugs remain insufficient. (McNeil Consumer Healthcare, the maker of Tylenol, announced in July that it was substantially reducing its recommended dosage of Extra Strength Tylenol. However, very little has been done to warn consumers about the dangers of taking too much, especially considering many people have bottles with the old recommended dosages in their home medicine cabinets.)
If you or a loved one has been injured by a drug containing acetaminophen, contact our Tylenol liver failure attorneys today at 404-832-8000 or by email at rcm@hsm-law.com. All information is kept strictly confidential, and you pay nothing unless we recover money for you by verdict or settlement.
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