What labels should say: Warn of the risk of severe liver damage if patients take more than the recommended dose or consume three or more drinks a day while on the drugs. Warn patients not to take multiple medicines that contain acetaminophen.
Popularity: 48 million Americans take an acetaminophen product weekly.
Danger: Acetaminophen sends 56,000 people to the emergency room yearly. About 100 people die yearly after unintentionally overdosing.
What’s it called: Acetaminophen is sold under the brand name Tylenol and in generic versions.
ASPIRIN, IBUPROFEN, NAPROXEN AND OTHER NONSTEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS (NSAIDS)
What labels would say: Additional warnings of the risk of stomach bleeding. Risk is higher in patients older than 59, or in those who have stomach ulcers, take blood-thinning drugs or steroids, use other drugs that contain an NSAID or remain on the medications for an extended period.
Popularity: 17 million Americans take an NSAID daily.
Danger: NSAIDs send more than 200,000 Americans to the hospital yearly. They are linked to 16,000 deaths.
What’s it called: Aspirin is sold as aspirin. Ibuprofen is sold as Advil and Motrin and in generic form. Naproxen is best known as Aleve, but is also sold generically.
