It only took them TWO DECADES to figure this out !

[Pharmacist.steve]

FDA orders lowering pain reliever in Vicodin

WASHINGTON - Federal health regulators are limiting a key ingredient found in Vicodin, Percocet and other prescription painkillers that have been linked to thousands of cases of liver damage each year.The Food and Drug Administration says it will cap the amount of acetaminophen in the drugs at 325 milligrams per capsule.Acetaminophen is a ubiquitous pain reliever found in Tylenol, Nyquil and thousands of other medicines used to treat headaches, muscle aches and sore throats. WASHINGTON - Federal health regulators are limiting a key ingredient found in Vicodin, Percocet and other prescription painkillers that have been linked to thousands of cases of liver damage each year.

The Food and Drug Administration says it will cap the amount of acetaminophen in the drugs at 325 milligrams per capsule.

Acetaminophen is a ubiquitous pain reliever found in Tylenol, Nyquil and thousands of other medicines used to treat headaches, muscle aches and sore throats. But regulators say acetaminophen is dangerous at the larger doses found in prescription combination drugs that combine it with other drugs like oxycodone.

Acetaminophen is the leading cause of liver failure in the U.S. and sends 56,000 people to the emergency room annually. About 200 die each year. The FDA estimates 120 of those deaths are linked to prescription drugs with acetaminophen.

If you are taking any Hydrocodone/APAP with greater than 325mg of APAP.. you should ask your doc on next refill to lower it to 325mg.. there is going to be a big rush once the supply pipe line empties.. and with any big rush .. there may well be delays in getting things done...

[mmglobal]

Steve, thanks for the info. I've never understood the way they package hydrocodone, oxycodone, etc...

I am using hydrocodone for breakthrough pain, but when I need 5mg... I take 1/2 a norco.... just 175mg tyelenol.

[cherylstewart67]

Do they put it in Demerol?

[Pharmacist.steve]

I am not aware of it being in combination with Demerol... However... Demerol should only be used short term - if at all - because it has toxic by-products from being metabolized in the body and its duration of action is VERY SHORT.

[cherylstewart67]

Originally Posted by Pharmacist.steve

I am not aware of it being in combination with Demerol... However... Demerol should only be used short term - if at all - because it has toxic by-products from being metabolized in the body and its duration of action is VERY SHORT.

Since Demerol is the only pain med that doesn't make me sick to my stomach, what other meds are an option? I want to mabe get back on Celebrex for the inflamation. It really was easy on the tummy. But I want to have a pain med that I can take for break-through pain. I don't want to have to take something everyday...Any ideas?

[Pharmacist.steve]

what meds have your tried?... Everything is a pretty broad statement about pain meds... I find it unusual that only Demerol doesn't do gastric upset... over other opiates... There are a number of things that one can do to see if a drug is at fault... take on a full stomach.... take Prilosec/Zantac before/while taking the med... try the liquid form of the med. Use the long acting form.