Cases That Made A Difference

Tylenol Verdict Prompts Warning Labels

After a man's liver was destroyed by a toxic reaction when he took Tylenol and drank wine, the Food and Drug Administration announced that all pain relievers containing acetaminophen, including Tylenol, would bear warning labels. The labels now instruct people who drink alcohol to consult their doctors before taking the drugs.

Pharmacologists have known about the link between Tylenol, alcohol and liver damage since the late 1970s. The man, who required an emergency liver transplant, was awarded compensatory and punitive damages by a jury. The FDA indicated it had been planning to require warnings before the verdict was rendered.

Steve Bates and Charles W. Hall, "Tylenol Verdict Puts Spotlight on Drug Labels," Washington Post, October 22, 1994, at A1.