A medicine so common most of us have a bottle in the cabinet may actually be dangerous. FDA experts say the recommended daily dosage of Tylenol should be lowered from 4 grams, or 8 pills of Extra Strength Tylenol. They also say each dose should be changed from 1,000 milligrams (2 pills) to 650 milligrams.

A key ingredient in Tylenol, acetaminophen, is know as the leading cause of liver cancer in the United States. About 200 people die every year and another 56,000 show up to emergency rooms.

"We view Tylenol as such a friendly medication. It's over the counter. It's not a big deal. But the reality is, too much of that, especially over a long period of time, can cause grave, grave damage to the liver," explains Dr. Greg Roslund, who works in St. Joseph Regional Medical Center’s ER. "Even though we think it's harmless, it's actually toxic if you take big doses and it's really common for patients to overdose on it."

Doctors say the damage is not immediate and it may take years to realize the harm to your liver. It may even be dangerous if you follow the guidelines currently on a medicine box.

"It's confusing to say the least. I tend to accept a manufacturer's statement that recommended usage is safe," says South Bend resident Ed Humphrey. "What are your alternatives? Are there safer alternatives? Not to my knowledge."

"It's scary that it's so readily available and people take it without really stopping and thinking about what they're putting in their mouth," explains Mar-Main’s pharmacist Ann Ziegert.

"It's too common. People use it too much. They have a pain or ache anywhere and it's probably the first thing you take," says Barbara Smith, shopping at Mar-Main Pharmacy in South Bend.

Acetaminophen is also in other common drugs like NyQuil and Theraflu, as well as prescriptions like Vicodin and Percocet. So if you take Tylenol along with one of those drugs, the combination could be even more harmful. Some members of the FDA panel called for the elimination of Vicodin and Percocet. They say the acetaminophen components in those drugs may not be necessary. Some on the panel also suggested if the drugs stay on the market, they should carry a black box warning, the most serious safety label available.