UPDATE 1-J&J recalls child Tylenol over packaging info

BC-HEALTH-JOHNSON (UPDATE 1)

UPDATE 1-J&J recalls child Tylenol over packaging info

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson on Friday recalled several varieties of its Tylenol painkiller for children due to confusing packaging information that could lead to young patients being given overly high doses of the over-the-counter medicine.

Johnson & Johnson said the recall applies to all lots and flavors of the following: Children's Tylenol Meltaways (80-milligram dose) that come in bottles and blister packs; Children's Tylenol SoftChews that come in 80-milligram blister packs; and Jr. Tylenol Meltaways that come in 160-milligram blister packs.

Blister packages allow patients to push a pill through thin packaging material.

J&J said some blister packs have cavities that hold one tablet, while others hold two tablets -- leaving some patients confused over whether one tablet or two tablets are needed for the desired 80 milligram-dose printed on the package. In fact, two tablets actually provide 160 milligrams of the active ingredient of Tylenol, twice the desired dose, the company said.

"Consumers should know that each tablet of Children's Tylenol Meltaways and Children's Tylenol SoftChews contains 80 milligrams of this active ingredient," known as acetaminophen, the company said in a release.

REUTERS Reut11:24 06-03-05