News tagged with 'Over-The-Counter'

A new report from the Food and Drug Administration calls for stronger warnings and better education about the use of acetaminophen, better known as Tylenol. It's easy to overdose on the recommended limit, and even a regular dose has been linked to liver damage and failure. 

Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, combed through 50 million death certificates from 1984 to 2004 and found a 360 percent increase in accidental drug overdoses of prescription medication. Partially to blame is the availability of prescription drugs, especially painkillers. 25 years ago, they were available only in the hospital. Now about a quarter of people exchange them.

For those on ibuprofen for five years of more, ibuprofen was shown to cut the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's by up to 40 percent.   Ibuprofen includes Advil and Motrin, but Boston University School of Medicine researchers are stopping short of recommending a daiily dose because of the risks.