FDA Warns of Fatal Skin Reactions with Acetaminophen

slimvictor

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Acetaminophen is associated with rare but severe and sometimes fatal skin reactions at usual doses, the FDA said Thursday.

The agency cited three published reports in which individuals developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), or acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) following administration of acetaminophen, and later showed skin reactions when rechallenged with the drug.

Additional reports of these syndromes following acetaminophen, but without rechallenge to confirm causality, have been published as well, the FDA noted. In most of the reported cases, acetaminophen was the only drug taken.

Also, a search of adverse event reports submitted to the FDA yielded 91 cases of Stevens-Johnson syndrome or TEN and another 16 cases of AGEP that were linked to acetaminophen. Twelve of those cases were fatal and 67 involved hospitalization.

The FDA said it would order a new warning for labels on all prescription products containing acetaminophen indicating a risk for severe skin reactions, and will request that manufacturers of over-the-counter products add such warnings.

It urged that patients developing skin reactions while taking acetaminophen or any other pain reliever or fever reducer to stop the drug and seek medical attention immediately. Patients who previously experienced such reactions after using acetaminophen should avoid the drug in the future, the FDA said.

cont at
http://www.medpagetoday.com/PainManagement/PainManagement/40792
 
This doesn’t sound too new to me...

Most OTC pain pills are just so damn toxic...

My question is why haven’t they established this in the last 80+ years?
 
I think anti inflammatories in general carry a risk of developing Steven-Johnsons and TENS. This is also the same thing that the poor woman who was permanently blinded and horribly disfigured had that the Supreme Court made the decision that you can only sue name brand drugs (if that is what you are taking) and that if you have problems with a generic you are not allowed to hold them responsible.
 
SJS/TEN is one of those horrible conditions that is so hard to predict and occurs with almost every drug.... I'm not going to lose sleep over this.

It is an aniline derivative though. Not a suprise it's toxic.
 
SJS/TEN is one of those horrible conditions that is so hard to predict and occurs with almost every drug.... I'm not going to lose sleep over this.

It is an aniline derivative though. Not a suprise it's toxic.

"SJS can be caused by adverse effects of drugs allopurinol, valproate, levofloxacin, diclofenac, etravirine, isotretinoin, fluconazole,[9] valdecoxib, sitagliptin, oseltamivir, penicillins, barbiturates, sulfonamides, phenytoin, azithromycin, oxcarbazepine, zonisamide, modafinil,[10] lamotrigine, nevirapine, pyrimethamine, ibuprofen,[11] ethosuximide, carbamazepine, bupropion TELAPREVIR [1] [2], and nystatin.[12][13]"


Who does the FDA think they could possibly help by warning about such a rare complication of one of the most common and essential drugs in the world?

With "a reported incidence of around 2.6 to 6.1 per million" most clinicians won't ever see this disorder.
 
Who does the FDA think they could possibly help by warning about such a rare complication of one of the most common and essential drugs in the world?

Common I agree. Essential, I must say it is rather not.

I feel like it is one of those ancient toxins we still see as actual medicine. Much like aspirin.

Just kept here to deter abuse more than anything.
 
Common I agree. Essential, I must say it is rather not.

I feel like it is one of those ancient toxins we still see as actual medicine. Much like aspirin.

Just kept here to deter abuse more than anything.

As one of the only OTC non steroid, non-nsaid analgesics and antipyretics around I consider an essential medicine. As far as being a toxin, I consider toxins to be harmful substances secreted from organisms - snake venom, botulinum toxin. Aspirin is a valuable anti-platelet drug and nsaid, I don't see why you would call it a toxin either? And as for being ancient, it's been around 60 years. I understand that it's not an ideal medicine, it causes hepatotoxicity in elevated doses, but it wouldn't be around if it weren't damn valuable (something better was available).
 
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