TORONTO – Health Canada says it may change its guidelines for acetaminophen, based on concerns about the drug’s capacity to cause severe liver injury.
The department says it is considering a new maximum recommended daily dose for acetaminophen.
As well, it may require that all children’s liquid medications that contain acetaminophen be sold with an accurate dosing device to minimize the risk of overdose.
Health Canada says there more than 4,000 hospitalizations a year in this country due to acetaminophen overdoses.
As a pain medication, acetaminophen is sold as Tylenol and its generic equivalents, but many cold medications also include the drug.
The drug is the leading cause of all serious liver injuries – including liver failure – in a number of countries including Canada.
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