Starting in October, Johnson & Johnson will begin adding a red warning to the caps of Extra Strength Tylenol which warns users of the risk of taking too much of the painkiller. 

Tylenol contains acetaminophen, a painkiller contained in many over the counter products as well as stronger drugs that require a doctor’s prescription.  Acetaminophen has been linked to fatal liver failure and acetaminophen overdoses are the most-common cause of liver failure in the United States.  Two years ago the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reduced the amount of acetaminophen that prescription products could contain to 325 milligrams per pill.  Extra Strength Tylenol contains 500 milligrams of acetaminophen per pill.

Johnson & Johnson’s new warnings will state “Contains Acetaminophen” and “Always Read the Label.”  Johnson & Johnson already warns users of its Tylenol products of the link between acetaminophen and fatal liver cancer.  This change is meant to reinforce these warnings to consumers.