Department of Health and Human Services January 14, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking steps to reduce the maximum dosage unit strength of acetaminophen in prescription drug products. This change will provide an increased margin of safety to help prevent liver damage due to acetaminophen overdosing, a serious public health problem. This notice explains the reasons for the reduction in dosage unit strength and describes how FDA is implementing it for approved prescription drug products that exceed the new maximum tablet or capsule strength. FDA is also requiring safety labeling changes, including a new boxed warning, for acetaminophen-containing prescription drug products to address new safety information about the risk of liver damage.