FORT WASHINGTON, Pa., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- McNeil Consumer & Specialty
Pharmaceuticals is pleased that the results of a new study entitled,
"Analgesic Use and Risk of Hypertension in Apparently Healthy Men," provide
further clinical evidence that the frequent use of analgesics, including
acetaminophen (TYLENOL(R)), does not increase the risk of developing
hypertension. The prospective study, published in the September 12, 2005
issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, specifically evaluated the use of
analgesics in healthy men with no history of high blood pressure. The study
findings reinforce the conclusion of previous clinical studies in this area
and specifically provide further information about the use of analgesics in a
healthy male population.
The study, which is the first large-scale, prospective cohort study of its
kind, evaluated data from 8,229 healthy males between 53-97 years of age who
were participants in the ongoing Physicians Health Study. After an average of
5.8 years of follow-up, 2,234 or 27.2% of the participants in the study
reported that they had developed hypertension during the study period.
Investigators then categorized the cumulative analgesic use of this
participant subset into quintiles based on amount of analgesic use. Based on
analysis of the quintiles data, study investigators determined that patients
in the highest quintile of analgesic use had no statistically significant
increase in the risk of hypertension when compared with those in the lowest
quintile.
The overall safety of acetaminophen (TYLENOL(R)) has been well established
in approximately 150 randomized clinical trials evaluating its use. When
taken as directed, acetaminophen is an effective pain reliever and has a
superior safety profile when compared with other over-the-counter pain
relievers.
The research was supported by investigator initiated research grants from
the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD and by an unrestricted
investigator initiated research grant from McNeil Consumer & Specialty
Pharmaceuticals, Fort Washington, PA.
About McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals
McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals markets prescription and over-
the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical products. Prescription products include
CONCERTA(R) (methylphenidate HCl) and FLEXERIL(R) (cyclobenzaprine HCl) 5 mg.
The company's OTC products include complete lines of TYLENOL(R) Acetaminophen
and MOTRIN(R) IB Ibuprofen products for adults and children. Other McNeil
brands include IMODIUM(R) (loperamide HCI) A-D Anti-Diarrheal, ST. JOSEPH(R)
Adult Regimen Aspirin and NIZORAL(R) A-D (ketoconazole) Shampoo.
SOURCE McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals
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Related links:
http://www.jnj.com
CONTACT:
Kathy Fallon, +1-215-273-7818,
kfallon@mccus.jnj.com, or Beth Gaffney, +1-215-273-8581,
bgaffne@mccus.jnj.com, for McNeil Consumer & Specialty
Pharmaceuticals
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