What's with Tylenol?

[Questor]

They're back in the news again with yet another scandal.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WellnessNews/tylenol-problems-affected-extra-strength-rolaids/story?id=9561842

I will never take Tylenol or a generic equivalent because the toxic dose is so close the therapeutic dose. I'll stick with aspirin.

[MGMorden]

I am already on cholchicine which even worse on the ratio of therapeutic dose to fatal dose.  I take Tylenol for headaches  and Ibuprofen when I need it for join pain (joint pain needs an anti-inflammatory specifically and so I try to mix it up rather than taking lots of either one).  Aspirin worsens gout so I can't take it.

Overall though, a low therapeutic index isn't bad, as long as you stick to the directions.  I've seen far too many people pop 3-4 pain pills when the bottle says to take 2 because they want to "make sure it works".  Such is the recipe for things going wrong - especially when they're taking them every 2 hours when the bottle says ever 4..  Take what the directions say, take it no more often than the directions allow, and barring a manufacturing defect (such as the one linked in the article - even Rolaids were affected ) you're fine.

[bearmgc]

That is the hallmark of the American public and OTC drugs. I've even seen nurses pop 3 extra strength tylenol for "migrains". Look at the overwhelming increase in the number of middle aged adults on dialysis, the increasing number of dialysis clinics, that can't keep up with the need. Kidney failure is rampant among baby boomers. Combine diabetes and abuse of OTC's, and even more kidney failure among the 40-50yr old's. Younguns, 20-30yr olds, seen em pop OTCs like candy at work. My warnings go unheeded.