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| |  Tylenol, Specifically Designed For OA, Available In Canada GUELPH, ON -- December 2, 1999 -- Tylenol(x) and arthritis have recently received attention through a campaign involving Wayne Gretzky, and now the newest Tylenol(x) designed specifically for the pain of osteoarthritis is available in Canadian pharmacies. Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplets, a specialised extended-relief form of Tylenol acetaminophen, is available to the more than 2.7 million Canadians with osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis.
Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplets are the only acetaminophen product in Canada to offer up to eight hours of relief from OA pain. Each caplet contains 650 mg of acetaminophen, and a two-caplet dose (1300 mg) provides pain relief for up to eight hours - or all night. The patented bi-layer technology allows the first 325 mg layer to dissolve quickly for fast action, while the second 325 mg layer is time-released for long-lasting pain relief. "The unique bi-layer technology of Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplets will offer people with arthritis extended pain relief, which for many will mean an uninterrupted night's sleep'' said Dr. Jim Swann, medical director for McNeil Consumer Healthcare. "Patients with arthritis prefer the convenience of the longer duration of action, and doctors prefer the simplified dosing schedule (three times per day instead of four times per day), which may improve compliance with recommended treatment plans,'' said Dr. Swann. According to the established medical guidelines used by Canadian doctors, acetaminophen is recommended as the first-line drug therapy for patients with OA pain. "Different types of arthritis require different treatment approaches,'' said Dr. Denis Choquette, a rheumatologist at the Notre-Dame Hospital in Montreal, QC. "Osteoarthritis, which is primarily non-inflammatory in nature, is best treated with range of motion and low impact exercises to slow joint wear and tear, and acetaminophen to relieve the pain. Other types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis are characterized by inflammation in the joints, and therefore may require anti-inflammatory medications.'' Traditional anti-inflammatory products include ASA and ibuprofen, while COX-2 NSAIDs are newer anti-inflammatory medications. An expert roundtable on treating OA was held earlier this summer, including arthritis experts from across Canada. Dr. Brian Craig, a family doctor at the Saint John Regional Hospital Facility in Saint John, NB, observed during the roundtable: "Generally, pain, not inflammation, is the key issue in the management of OA patients in the family practice setting. Often, the problem is chronic, and there is little clinical evidence of an inflammatory process.... We usually see individuals who are in such significant discomfort that it interferes with their activities of daily living. They are primarily seeking pain relief.'' The introduction of Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplets is part of McNeil's ongoing commitment to helping people with arthritis live a more enjoyable life. In September, McNeil launched a campaign to raise awareness about the risk factors and early symptoms of OA, with Wayne Gretzky as the campaign's spokesperson. The company also supported The Arthritis Society this year in sponsoring The Arthritis Storefront website, a virtual store where people can purchase aids to daily living on line.
Related Links: Tylenol and McNeil Consumer Healthcare.
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