Hey,
It’s my 18th birthday today, and I needed to take 2 aleve at about 11:30.
Now, I know I’m not supposed to drink, but how much of this is wise precaution and how much of it is serious danger?
Anyone?
http://pharminfo.com/medwatch/mwrpt57.html
MedWatch News
FDA ANNOUNCES NEW ALCOHOL WARNINGS FOR PAIN RELIEVERS AND FEVER REDUCERS
Source: October 21, 1998 – FDA MedWatch Program
Food and Drug Administration
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857
P98-31 Print Media: 301-827-6242
October 21, 1998 Broadcast Media: 301-827-3434
Consumer Inquiries: 800-532-4440
The Food and Drug Administration announced today that all over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers and fever reducers must carry a warning label advising people who consume three or more alcoholic drinks every day to consult their doctors before using these drugs.
This announcement is based on a final rule, which is on display today in the Federal Register, requiring manufacturers to add this warning to the labeling within six months for OTC products and combination products intended for adult use that contain aspirin, other salicylates, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, or ketoprofen.
FDA is issuing this final rule after considering public comments and data on the effect of combining chronic alcohol ingestion and the use of various OTC analgesics. The action also follows the recommendations of the Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and the Arthritis Drugs Advisory Committee which concluded that chronic alcohol users should be warned that they may be at an increased risk of liver damage or stomach bleeding from use of these drugs.
Today’s comprehensive action provides for an alcohol warning on all OTC pain relievers and fever reducers intended for adult use and may help prevent serious side effects in people who consume three or more alcoholic drinks every day.
The specific warnings concerning “liver damage” and “stomach bleeding” are being required because the agency believes that consumers with a history of chronic alcohol use need to know the potential risk that use of OTC analgesic and antipyretic (fever reducing) drug products may pose to them.
“Consumers need to know that chronic use of alcohol while taking pain relievers or fever reducers can be hazardous to their health. FDA urges people with a history of alcohol use to seek a doctor’s advice about their risk of side effects before taking these medications,” said Dr. Michael A. Friedman, Acting FDA Commissioner.
FDA’s final rule, includes the following specific warnings:
Acetaminophen:
“Alcohol Warning: If you consume 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day, ask your doctor whether you should take acetaminophen or other pain relievers/fever reducers. Acetaminophen may cause liver damage.”
Aspirin, carbaspirin calcium, choline salicylate, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, magnesium salicylate, naproxen sodium and sodium salicylate:
“Alcohol Warning: If you consume 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day, ask your doctor whether you should take [ingredient] or other pain relievers/fever reducers. [Ingredient] may cause stomach bleeding.”
Combination of acetaminophen with other analgesic/antipyretic ingredients:
“Alcohol Warning” "If you consume 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day, ask your doctor whether you should take [insert ingredients] or other pain relievers/fever reducers. [Insert ingredients] may cause liver damage and stomach bleeding.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration report, “Preliminary Results from the l997 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse,” about 11 million Americans are heavy drinkers. These people, therefore, are at risk of the serious side effects that may be posed by the combination of heavy alcohol use and analgesics or antipyretics labeled for OTC adult use.
New OTC pain relievers and fever reducers approved for OTC adult use since 1993 have already been required to carry a warning for heavy alcohol users. However, labeling to indicate the specific risk associated with each ingredient has not been required. Products previously required to include an alcohol warning in their labeling include Aleve (naproxyn sodium), Orudis KT and Actron (ketoprofen), Advil Liquigels (solubilized ibuprofen), and Tylenol Extended Release (acetominophen). These products will also be subject to the new rule.
Don’t take them unless you have to, but, unless you are a chronic boozer, I doubt if they’ll do much to hurt you this one time. It seems there are no pain killers you can take when drinking, though I used to. (Not that I’ve had a liver test lately.) You can call a pharmacy, tell them you’ve been drinking X number of drinks and ‘accidentally’ took X number of Alieve and should you be concerned. That way you’ll know. (Even if you’ve not started drinking yet.)
Hmm…
thanks.
Well, from what I gather it says pain reliever is bad for chronic drinkers, but it says nothing about someone who never drinks but wants to one night… any other advice?
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000929.html
“For the overwhelming majority of users these medicines work as advertised and are completely safe. However, you do face the slight chance of abrupt death.”
Could you possibly skip taking Alleve tonight? Or only take one instead of two?
There is also an excellent discussion of Cecil’s column here:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=40153
Arjuna34
Hey,
Hope you had/are having a good party… I went to someone else’s 18th tonight, and it was pretty fun.
I just got back from my brother’s 30th birthday party. They’re staying up till the bars close now.