Tylenol, Bayer, Advil, Motrin and Aleve are some of the most common over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers and fever reducers on the market. Most of us have taken all or most of these at some point without feeling that we were putting ourselves in danger. However, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) says that these drugs may be more dangerous than we know.

Unintentional aspirin overdose increasing

The FDA has reported that acute liver failure brought on by ingesting too much aspirin increased dramatically between 1998 and 2003 – from 28% to over 50% – and is one of the leading causes of acute liver failure from unintentional overdose.

Although many products that contain acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin (Bayer and other brands), Ibuprofin (Advil, Motrin and other brands), Naxopren (Aleve, Execdrin and other brands) and Ketoprofen, may provide some warnings, other products such as cold medications may also contain acetaminophen and NSAIDs. However, many consumers don't realize it. So, taking an “aspirin” AND a cold medicine may increase the chances of accidental overdose. In order to make the public aware of those risks, the FDA is now requiring manufactures to strengthen their warnings.

FDA requires stronger warning

The FDA will require manufacturers of over the counter (OTC) pain relievers and fever reducers to revise their labeling to include warnings about these potential safety risks by April of 2010. All manufacturers who produce OTC pain relievers and fever reducers, including those that contain one of these ingredients in combination with other ingredients, such as in cold medicines, are affected. Active ingredients must be prominently displayed on the drug labels on both the packages and bottles. To view a statement from the FDA, please click here.

If you or someone you know has suffered liver damage or died due to aspirin toxicity, contact an experienced products liability attorney to discuss your situation and evaluate your options. Injured victims may be entitled to compensation.