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WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal health officials cautioned Tuesday the tens of millions of Americans who take popular over-the-counter pain pills of their potentially serious side effects and released planned label changes intended to warn of the sometimes deadly risks.
Aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen and the other related over-the-counter drugs remain safe and effective when used as directed, the Food and Drug Administration said.
However, overdoses of acetaminophen can cause serious liver damage, even death, the FDA said. For aspirin, ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, there is a risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and kidney injury even when patients take the correct dose. Those risks too are linked to deaths, in this case thousands each year. The FDA cautioned the risk is rare when compared to the number of patients who take the drugs.
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