Skip to main content
PMC home page
Canadian Medical Association Journal logoLink to Canadian Medical Association Journal
. 1981 Oct 15;125(8):827–829.

Treatment of acetaminophen poisoning.

E M Sellers, F Freedman
PMCID: PMC1862716  PMID: 7030465

Abstract

Acetaminophen is an analgesic that is frequently used in Canada, and the occurrence of overdoses with this drug seems to be increasing. The most serious complication of acetaminophen overdose is hepatic failure. Because of pathophysiologic effects of acetaminophen poisoning and the mechanisms of its toxic effects are now better understood, a rational approach to treatment is possible. Several precursors of glutathione, acetylcysteine in particular, are effective in preventing liver damage if administered within 10 hours of acetaminophen ingestion. Plasma acetaminophen levels are a helpful guide to therapy.

Full text

PDF
829

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Burks J. S., Walker J. E., Rumack B. H., Ott J. E. Tricyclic antidepressant poisoning. Reversal of coma, choreoathetosis, and myoclonus by physostigmine. JAMA. 1974 Dec 4;230(10):1405–1407. doi: 10.1001/jama.230.10.1405. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Hughes R. D., Gazzard B. G., Hanid M. A., Trewby P. N., Murray-Lyon I. M., Davis M., Williams R., Bennet J. R. Controlled trial of cysteamine and dimercaprol after paracetamol overdose. Br Med J. 1977 Nov 26;2(6099):1395–1395. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.6099.1395. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Koch-Weser J. Drug therapy. Acetaminophen. N Engl J Med. 1976 Dec 2;295(23):1297–1300. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197612022952306. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Maclean D., Peters T. J., Brown R. A., McCathie M., Baines G. F., Robertson P. G. Treatment of acute paracetamol poisoning. Lancet. 1968 Oct 19;2(7573):849–852. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(68)91002-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Mitchell J. R., Jollow D. J., Potter W. Z., Davis D. C., Gillette J. R., Brodie B. B. Acetaminophen-induced hepatic necrosis. I. Role of drug metabolism. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1973 Oct;187(1):185–194. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Mitchell J. R., Jollow D. J., Potter W. Z., Gillette J. R., Brodie B. B. Acetaminophen-induced hepatic necrosis. IV. Protective role of glutathione. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1973 Oct;187(1):211–217. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Mitchell J. R., Thorgeirsson S. S., Potter W. Z., Jollow D. J., Keiser H. Acetaminophen-induced hepatic injury: protective role of glutathione in man and rationale for therapy. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1974 Oct;16(4):676–684. doi: 10.1002/cpt1974164676. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Prescott L. F., Newton R. W., Swainson C. P., Wright N., Forrest A. R., Matthew H. Successful treatment of severe paracetamol overdosage with cysteamine. Lancet. 1974 Apr 6;1(7858):588–592. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(74)92649-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Prescott L. F. The chief scientist reports ... prevention of hepatic necrosis following paracetamol overdosage. Health Bull (Edinb) 1978 Jul;36(4):204–212. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Proudfoot A. T., Park J. Changing pattern of drugs used for self-poisoning. Br Med J. 1978 Jan 14;1(6105):90–93. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.6105.90. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Smith J. M., Roberts W. O., Hall S. M., White T. A., Gilbertson A. A. Late treatment of paracetamol poisoning with mercaptamine. Br Med J. 1978 Feb 11;1(6109):331–333. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.6109.331. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Canadian Medical Association Journal are provided here courtesy of Canadian Medical Association

RESOURCES