Acetaminophen 500-milligram caplets made by the Perrigo Co. are being recalled because they could contain metal fragments. The move affects 11 million bottles sold under store brands by Wal-Mart, CVS, Safeway and more than 120 other major retailers. CVS Corp. and SuperValu Inc. have already begun taking out the pills from store shelves.
Millions of bottles of the widely used pain reliever acetaminophen, some sold as long as three years ago, are being recalled.
There have been no reports of injuries or illness so far.
Acetaminophen, along with aspirin and ibuprofen, is one of the most widely used pain relievers available without a prescription.
Paracetamol (INN) (IPA: [p?rəˈsitəmɒl, -moʊl, -ˈsɛtə-]) or acetaminophen (USAN), is a common analgesic and antipyretic drug that is used for the relief of fever, headaches, and other minor aches and pains. Paracetamol is also useful in managing more severe pain, allowing lower dosages of additional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or opioid analgesics to be used, thereby minimizing overall side-effects. It is a major ingredient in numerous cold and flu medications, as well as many prescription analgesics. It is remarkably safe for human use in recommended doses, but because of its wide availability, deliberate or accidental overdoses are fairly common.
Common brand names for the drug include Herron in Australia, Tylenol in Brazil, Canada, South Korea and the U.S., Paralen in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Panadol in Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the UK, Portugal and Singapore, Doliprane, Dafalgan, and Efferalgan in France, Tachipirina and Efferalgan in Italy, Crocin in India, Gelocatil in Spain, Benuron in Portugal, Alvedon in Sweden, Panodil and Pinex in Denmark and Iceland, Acamol in Israel, Pinex and Paracet in Norway and Depon in Greece.