The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is recommending healthcare providers do not provide or dispense prescription combination drug products containing more than 325 milligrams of acetaminophen.
"There are no available data to show that taking more than 325 mg of acetaminophen per dosage unit provides additional benefit that outweighs the added risks for liver injury," reads the report.
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Acetaminophen is often combined with other ingredients and is present in many over-the-counter products, so consumers may be unaware of how much they are actually consuming, according to the report.
In 2011, the FDA issued an alert to drug manufacturers asking them to limit the amount of acetaminophen to 325 mg by Jan. 14, 2014 to reduce the risk of liver damage and acetaminophen overdose.
According to the report, about half of drug manufacturers are still producing products exceeding this amount. The FDA recommends physicians prescribe drugs with no more than 325 mg of acetaminophen. If a pharmacist receives a prescription calling for more than this amount, the FDA recommends contacting the prescriber to discuss a lower dosage.
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