We received a brochure entitled "Tylenol....Arthritis" from manufacturer McNeil. We are not special. It was a general mailing. And hey! It did not mention its side effects. Instead, it boasted, "Tylenol (trade marked) Arthritis does not pose the same risks of stomach irritation and gastrointestinal bleeding that aspirin and even ibuprofen sometimes can."

No word about what it DOES cause. Is this legal? That's not our department. But we do believe that it is unethical. The brochure goes even further, recommending "Take as directed. (up to 6 caplets a day)" Six of their pills total 3900 milligrams or 3.9 grams. Certainly not the 10 grams that has been shown to kill in the British crackdown*. But an awful lot. What if any would be the damage to the liver in long-term use, which would probably be the case with arthritis? Nary a word. Naughty Tylenol! Patients, watch your step.

*See previous article, Tylenol--The Good News (Sure) posted in here on July 17, 2000.

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