Tylenol Maker Says Take It Easy

The maker of Extra Strength Tylenol is voluntarily reducing the maximum daily dosage of the acetaminophen-based pain reliever from eight pills, or 4,000 milligrams, to six pills, or 3,000 milligrams. The McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division of Johnson & Johnson says it'll also reduce the maximum dosage of their Regular Strength product. Acetaminophen is the most common pain killer in the US.

There have been concerns that people taking multiple medicines that use acetaminophen may end up with accidental overdoses. The ingredient is a caue of liver damage, and has been blamed for 200 deaths a year, most caused by overdoses.

Two years ago, an advisory panel recommended the Food and Drug Administration place major restrictions on acetaminophen to reduce the number of accidental overdoses. A spokesperson for McNeil Consumer Healthcare says acetaminophen is safe when used as directed, and notes that people frequently don't follow dosing instructions when taking the pain killer.

McNeil Consumer Healthcare says its packaging will be changed beginning this fall, to reflect the lower recommended dosages.