Content about acetaminophen

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A standards-development organization for the pharmacy services industry has updated a white paper on protecting consumers and patients from accidental overdoses of the painkiller acetaminophen.

The NCPDP announced the updated white paper, "NCPDP Recommendations for Improved Prescription Container Labels for Medicines Containing Acetaminophen Version 1.1."

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Bayer HealthCare's Consumer Care Division on Tuesday introduced Bayer Migraine Formula, an over-the-counter medication designed to relieve migraine pain and accompanying symptoms like nausea, phonophobia (sound sensitivity) and photophobia (light sensitivity) through a formulation of aspirin, acetaminophen and caffeine.

WASHINGTON — A new continuing-education program offered by a national pharmacist professional organization aims to prepare pharmacists to communicate with patients about the safe and effective use of the painkiller acetaminophen.

The American Pharmacists Association said its new CE program would allow pharmacists to outline the Food and Drug Administration's recent advisory panel meetings on the drug, communicate with patients about its appropriate use, and engage consumers in dialogue and such activities as reading labels of products containing acetaminophen.

CHADDS FORD, Pa. — Endo Pharmaceuticals announced a short-term supply constraint of analgesic products, including Opana ER, due to the temporary shutdown of a manufacturing facility operated by Novartis Consumer Health.

WASHINGTON — Approximately 5.3% of high school seniors abused over-the-counter cough-cold medicines in the past month, according to the latest "Monitoring the Future" survey released Wednesday by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. That's down from 6.6% of high school seniors who claimed to have recently abused cough-cold medicines last year.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Perrigo this summer developed a healthcare professional outreach strategy, educating pediatricians, for example, around the company’s new infants’ and children’s acetaminophen dosing and packaging changes. It’s the kind of outreach that’s more often associated with an OTC manufacturer supporting a branded product, not the store-brand medicines that Perrigo produces. 


IRVINGTON, N.Y. — Prestige Brands on Thursday announced the launch of its new PediaCare and Little Remedies single-concentration acetaminophen products.

The new standard concentration liquid acetaminophen products for infants and children under 2 years of age will be 160 mg/5 mL.

“The voluntary changes to single-concentration acetaminophen dosing demonstrate the continued commitment to accuracy, safety and innovation from PediaCare and Little Remedies," Prestige VP over-the-counter products Albert Hwang said.

ROCKVILLE, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration on Friday refreshed its Consumer Updates page with information regarding the danger of acetaminophen overdose in children.

“You’re in the drug store, looking for a fever-reducing medicine for your children,” the message begins. “They range in age from 6 months to 7 years, and you want to buy one product you can use for all of them. So you buy liquid acetaminophen in concentrated drops for infants, figuring you can use the dropper for the baby and a teaspoon for the oldest.”

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores delivered on Tuesday testimony on the safe usage of pediatric acetaminophen products before a joint meeting of the Food and Drug Administration Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and Pediatric Advisory Committee.

WASHINGTON — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association on Wednesday announced plans to convert liquid pediatric acetaminophen products to just one concentration.

This voluntary change means the current children’s strength of liquid acetaminophen (160 mg/5 mL) will become the only liquid concentration available for all children younger than 12 years, and the current concentrated infant drops no longer will be sold.

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Actavis last week named Lisa Buono to lead its over-the-counter drug division as part of the company’s strategic expansion of the division.

As director of OTC, Buono will oversee the division’s day-to-day operations and will focus on identifying and capitalizing on new product opportunities. Actavis manufactures and distributes numerous nonprescription liquids, creams and ointments sold under the Actavis label and its customers’ own brands, as well as FeverAll brand acetaminophen suppositories.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new formulation of a drug for treating acetaminophen poisoning.

Cumberland Pharmaceuticals announced Thursday that the agency had approved a version of Acetadote (acetylcysteine) injection that does not contain preservatives or stabilization and chelating agents, and will replace the currently marketed version. The drug originally was approved in 2004.