WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Acetaminophen - Artifical Sweetners - Obesity - Drug Doses

Acetaminophen - Artifical Sweetners - Obesity - Drug Doses

By: Marsha Thompson

marsha@wlbt.net

The FDA will meet today to discuss ways of getting consumers to use acetaminophen safely. Scientists say thousands of Americans may be using the drug in toxic doses and putting themselves at risk for serious liver damage. The FDA is mulling over the idea of putting stronger warning labels on drugs with acetaminophen. The painkiller is best known by the Tylenol brand. But it is also contained in almost 200 different branded and generic products from headache relievers to cold-and-cough remedies. FDA officials say many consumers don't realize the risk involved with overdosing on the drug. Tylenol's manufacturer says is one of the safest drugs on the market.

SWEETNERS

Faking it may help you shed the extra pounds. A study of 40 overweight men and women finds those who used artificially sweetened foods and drinks had more luck battling the bulge than those who consumed real sugar. The artificial sweetener group lost an average of a pound during the ten week test period. The sugar group gained the same amount. They also showed increases in blood pressure.

OBESITY

Researchers have uncovered what may be a risk factor for obesity in girls. A new study finds young girls with high cholesterol are more likely to put on the pounds as they get older. The relationship between high cholesterol levels and weight gain is not fully understood, but they believe high cholesterol may be a marker of metabolism changes that eventually lead to obesity. The findings may help lead to strategies to detect and prevent obesity in children at risk.

DRUG DOSES

 A newspaper investigation may have you thinking twice about the amount of medicine you take. A New York times article claims twenty percent of prescription drugs come with instructions for use that must be later corrected by the manufacturer. The article says the corrections are almost always to lower recommended drug dose...or to warn the drug may be harmful to certain patients. Some examples of drugs with instruction changes...viagra...which was restricted from certain cardiac patients...and prozac...where the dosage is different for elderly patients. New information on West Nile and blood donations tonight at ten..