Executive Summary

A large majority -- 82 percent -- of recently surveyed physicians does not agree that FDA should pull acetaminophen products off the market. HCD Research surveyed 589 physicians July 17-19 after a joint advisory panel recommended FDA remove prescription acetaminophen products from the market, but said OTC combo products could stay. It also advised the agency restrict the amount of acetaminophen in OTC tablets and lower the dose (1"Health News Daily" July 1, 2009). While 86 percent of the physicians said the panel's recommendation will not change whether they will continue prescribing acetaminophen Rx drugs or recommending OTC drugs for their patients, nearly a third -- 29 percent -- said they are more likely to discuss warnings and dosage instructions with patients who use acetaminophen products, Flemington, N.J.-based HCD said July 20