However, some experts complained the measure would create unnecessary work for doctors and patients.

"I think the drain on the health care system, which is already strained, would be enormous," said Dr. Robert Kerns of Yale University.

The FDA is not required to follow the group's advice, though it usually does.

Panelists are scheduled to vote later Tuesday on a series of safety restrictions for the drugs — including changes to packaging and labeling.

The experts rejected a proposal to pull certain cold and cough medicines off the market. The FDA says patients often pair combination drugs, like Procter & Gamble's NyQuil or Novartis' Theraflu, with pure acetaminophen treatments, like Tylenol, exposing themselves to unsafe levels of the drug.

But panelists cited FDA data that said the medications play a minor role in acetaminophen overdoses, with only 10 percent of acetaminophen-related deaths involving a cold and cough product.

"I don't think we should be advocating a solution to a problem that really is not there," said Dr. Osemwota Omoigui, of the Los Angeles pain clinic.