Volume 4 - Issue 2

Featured Articles from The Arthritis & Glucosamine Resource Center

1. Osteoarthritis: Explained Simply
2. Glucosamine and Osteoarthritis
3. A Guide to Glucosamine Products
4. Eight Tips to Control Arthritic Pain
5. What You Need to Know Before Buying A Glucosamine Product
6. Arthritis in Dogs and Cats
7. Arthritis Message Board Community
8. Liquid Glucosamine Formula Syn-flex®

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The F.D.A. and Acetaminophen

In case you missed this announcement last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is about to embark on a public service campaign warning about the dangers of acetaminophen (best known under the "Tylenol" brand name).

As I have warned repeatedly, the use of NSAID's can be dangerous. In this instance, the FDA is specifically directing consumers' attention to acetaminophen and with good cause. In fact, there are about 600 products on the market that contain acetaminophen and in many instances, consumers are not even aware of it. They include pain, cold and flu remedies that are sold over the counter. Of course, there are also prescription medications like Vicodin that also include acetaminophen in its ingredients.

Focus of this Campaign
The focus of this campaign is to alert us that it can literally poison the liver. According to the information the government is releasing, about 100 million people a year take acetaminophen. While the manufacturer is quick to point out that the number of complications are rare, the statistics are pretty impressive. About 56,000 people a year wind up in emergency rooms as a result of an overdose. As well, about 100 deaths are reported annually.

The FDA Warning
As this announcement states, this campaign falls short of what their own scientific advisors recommended in 2002: namely, that all NSAID's should be labeled with warnings that include the potential for side effects like stomach bleeding and kidney problems. So, what is the best approach for you?

Steps to Take to Protect Yourself
The FDA has a very small budget for this "awareness" campaign (something in the neighborhood of $20,000.) Given that fact, they are going to rely on pharmacies to notify consumers about this risk and I would submit that this is a bit of a problem. Let's face facts. Pharmacies are unlikely to get very involved. So, what should you do?

1. Read labels. Take the time to read the label of every over-the-counter pain, flu or cold remedy you purchase. (Also, check with your physician to find out if any of the medications you are taking contain acetaminophen.)
2. Eliminate the risk factors. Let's review the factors that increase the risk of liver damage:
   1. You are at greater risk of liver damage if you consume more than three alcoholic beverages daily.
   2. Risks increase if you are over 60; take prescription blood thinners or steroids; or have a history of stomach bleeding (or other bleeding disorders.)
   3. As to kidney damage (as opposed to the liver), NSAID's in general may cause (reversible) kidney damage if you have a pre-existing kidney disease or are taking blood pressure medication. I am adding this precaution as to the potential for kidney damage because you should be aware that the liver is not the only organ that may be at risk.

See you next time.

Have Questions? Email me
I hope these tips have helped. Do not give up on the fight against your arthritis. I know pain can be extremely difficult, exhausting, and depressing. Please email me if you have any questions. I can be reached at jr@www.arthritis-glucosamine.net. I will do my best to answer all questions within two weekdays.

Arthritis Message Boards

We invite you to participate in our Arthritis Message Board Community. You can learn about arthritis, ask questions, get feedback, make friends, and build a support network of fellow arthritis sufferers. Visit the Arthritis Message Boards today!

8 Tips to Control Arthritic Pain

This Arthritis Course is packed with quality information on what you should know before you talk to your doctor, the arthritis diagnosis, treatment options, treatment side effects, glucosamine, tips on proper diets and exercise, weight management, alternative options, and an easy to understand explanation of what exactly arthritis is, how it occurs, and the effect on cartilage including a discussion of chondrocytes, collagen, proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans, and synovial fluid.

If you are committed to taking the right steps towards effectively easing arthritis pain and knowing all your options, then this course will be extremely helpful to you.

The course is spread out over an eight day period and a new part of the course is sent each day right to your email inbox.

Once you begin your course above, you will receive one article each day delivered right to your email inbox. The daily topics are:

1. The Arthritis Diagnosis
2. Osteoarthritis Explained
3. Exercise, Diet, and Weight
4. Cox-II Inhibitors and NSAIDs
5. So What is Glucosamine?
6. How to Evaluate Glucosamine Products
7. Alternative Arthritis Methods
8. Your New Arthritis Plan

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See You Next Month

This concludes the February Issue of The Arthritis Chronicle. Look for the next issue in your inbox on March 1st! Please forward to any friends you know who have arthritis and would be interested.

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Have a great February from the Arthritis Chronicle
See you next month!

Please note:
As readers of this Chronicle are aware, prudent exercise benefits those who suffer from arthritis. Most of the exercise recommendations made here are low impact in nature and designed to assist those who suffer from arthritis. Nonetheless, we always recommend that you consult with your physician before engaging in any type of exercise program.