Acetaminophen is the most common drug ingredient in the United States. It’s found in more than 600 different medicines, including prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, fever reducers, and sleep aids as well as cough, cold, and allergy medicines. Each week, approximately 23 percent of U.S. adults — or 52 million consumers — use an acetaminophen-containing medicine.
Safe use of acetaminophen is a top priority for manufacturers of OTC medicines. Manufacturers work closely with FDA, healthcare provider groups, pharmacist groups, and consumer health advocates to drive safe and responsible use of acetaminophen.
In a study newly published in the medical journal Clinical Toxicology, “therapeutic misuse” of OTC combination products containing acetaminophen was infrequent and declined over a 10-year period.
CHPA appreciates the opportunity to provide comments to the FDA in response to “Over-the-Counter Pediatric Liquid Drug Products Containing Acetaminophen”. CHPA and its member companies have an interest and expertise in acetaminophen-containing OTC products and support FDA’s efforts to improve the safe use of acetaminophen.
CHPA requests that FDA publish a statement of enforcement policy expressly permitting manufacturers of single-ingredient acetaminophen OTC drugs subject to the ongoing internal analgesic, antipyretic, and antirheumatic monograph proceedings to including labeling on products that provide instructions for use in children aged six months to two years.
CHPA supports advancing modernization of USP's quality monographs, updating and improving the compendial test methods and establishing product standards which can provide an additional measure of safety for OTC products.
Enclosed are comments on "Guidance for Industry; Organ-Specific Warnings: Internal Analgesic, Antipyretic, and Antirheumatic Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use - Labeling for Products that Contain Acetaminophen."
CHPA recognizes the need for modernization of USP monographs. CHPA member companies are dedicated to fulfilling their commitment outlined in the letter to this Planning Committee on February 2, 2011.
