Since the beginning of 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released two official notices warning doctors, health care providers, and patients of the dangers of using Extra Strength Tylenol (acetaminophen) because of various medical and consumer reports linking the use of Tylenol with liver damage or failure.

Drug manufacturer Johnson & Johnson faces numerous Tylenol liver damage lawsuits and may possibly face Tylenol class action lawsuits in the future.

According to the FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting page, on January 14 of this year, the public notice stated: “[The] FDA is recommending health care professionals discontinue prescribing and dispensing prescription combination drug products that contain more than 325 milligrams (mg) of acetaminophen per tablet, capsule or other dosage unit … limiting the amount of acetaminophen per dosage unit will reduce the risk of severe liver injury from inadvertent acetaminophen overdose, which can lead to liver failure, liver transplant, and death.”

While the notice does not directly mention Tylenol or Tylenol Extra Strength, it is important for consumers to know that acetaminophen is the active drug ingredient present in Tylenol products.

A few months later in April, the FDA released a reminder notice that went as far as asking pharmacists to remove doses of acetaminophen higher than 325 mg from their shelves. Additionally, “[i]f a pharmacist receives a prescription for a combination product with more than 325 mg of acetaminophen per dosage unit, FDA recommends that they contact the prescriber to discuss a product with a lower dose of acetaminophen.”

This dose of acetaminophen is considered dangerous by the FDA and allegedly likely to induce liver failure in patients.

Tylenol and acetaminophen products have been marketed as a generally safe over-the-counter medications for years within the United States. However, many reports identify acetaminophen overdose as the leading cause of liver damage across the nation. Tylenol/acetaminophen overdoses are allegedly responsible for thousands of hospitalizations and even hundreds of deaths each and every year.

In light of these reports, Johnson & Johnson and its pharmaceutical subsidiaries that produce Tylenol and Tylenol extra strength may expect more Tylenol liver damage civil and class action lawsuit throughout the rest of the year.

Tylenol (Acetaminophen) and Liver Damage

Acetaminophen has been a popularly bought and prescribed over-the-counter pain reliever since 1899 and has been made and distributed under dozens of various drug and brand names. It is a common aid in bringing down fever and managing pain in various parts of the body.

Tylenol, J&J’s brand name version of acetaminophen, was designed and sold for the first time in 1955 and has been a staple drug in many households across the United States for decades. Tylenol can come in various forms and doses including extra strength, children’s, longer-lasting, and a sleep aid dose.

While Tylenol has many health benefits and can provide great relief for fever and pain, it is not without its risks. As previously stated, one major concern associated with ingesting Tylenol or any acetaminophen based drug is the risk of liver damage.

Some signs of Tylenol (acetaminophen) induced liver damage may include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Tiredness or extreme tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• Sweating
• Bleeding
• Bruising
• Pain in upper stomach
• Yellow tones in skin and eyes
• Some flu-like symptoms