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How about a straight answer when health’s at issue?

Doctors did a study reported today about painkillers. The drug they studied was acetaminophen -- most popularly sold as Ty****l. Their study found people taking acet. at the highest recommended dosages showed abnormal results on some liver testing.

Not happy news, no matter how you cut that. But here's the deal -- did the drug cause liver damage or liver problems, or did it simply mess up the tests? Some stories (like this one, for example) come right out and say using the stuff could "trigger" liver damage. Whatever "could trigger" might mean?? The report they had about it on the local TV news emphasized at the start of the report and the end that the drug only caused irregular test results, not liver damage.

Small issue, maybe, but within 15 minutes of the TV coverage, a spokeswoman for the major pharmaceutical company which manufactures that best-known name brand acetaminophen was quick to appear in a commercial urging customers to take their product only according to the proper dosage.

My point is this: Will high dosages of the drug harm me, or only give some sort of false tests that LOOK like they're harming me?

For an old guy like me always taking painkillers for ongoing aches and pains, I'd really like to know -- before the health breakdown rather than after.

Darn media people. They need to get it straight before they report it.

But, hey, what do I know? I'm just a guy who reads the papers.

July 4, 2006 | Filed Under Health News 

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