The recent introduction of a less-concentrated version of liquid acetaminophen for infants has prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to suggest that parents and caregivers double-check the labels on all liquid acetaminophen products prior to administering any to their child.
While the newer, less-concentrated form of the pain reliever (160 milligram per 5 milliliter) has started to arrive on pharmacy shelves, many people may have the more concentrated, original version (80 milligram per 1 milliliter) at home in their medicine cabinet. According to a recent FDA report, the availability of differing concentrations has lead to many overdoses in infants, some of which have even resulted in the death of a child due to liver failure.
The FDA has asked parents to take care when administering liquid acetaminophen pain relievers to their children, suggesting that they read the “active ingredient” section of the Drug Facts label for products marketed to treat infants or children.
It is important to note that there are no dosing instructions for children under the age of two. Parents of children younger than two must consult a physician prior to administering any medication.
(Source: RedOrbit.com)
