Acetaminophen labels changing to emphasize liver risks

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Health Canada is changing the labelling rules for acetaminophen to include stronger warnings against overdosing, noting the risk of liver damage from the popular painkiller.

Acetaminophen, sometimes sold as Tylenol, is one of the most commonly used pain and fever relievers in Canada. While Health Canada says it is used safely by most Canadians, overdoses and prolonged use can cause liver damage, liver failure and even death.

The new labelling standard will include clearer instructions that emphasize the importance of:

using the lowest effective dose
not exceeding the recommended daily maximum (which is 4,000 mg for adults) in a 24-hour period.
not using these products for more than five days for pain or three days for fever
not mixing them with alcohol if drinking three or more drinks in a day.

As well, the words “contains acetaminophen” will be displayed in bold, red text in the top right corner of the front of the package, to make it easier for consumers to know if a product contains this drug.