Acetaminophen is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States. Nearly half of acetaminophen-associated cases are due to unintentional overdose.
Especially vulnerable patients are:
Especially vulnerable patients are:
- taking enzyme-inducing drugs
- chronic users of alcohol
- malnourished
Although no consensus has been reached on what is a safe dose in patients with liver disease, 4 g/day is too much: a total daily dose of no more than 2 g is recommended to decrease the risk of toxicity in these patients.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering banning acetaminophen-narcotic combination products.
References:
Acetaminophen: Old drug, new warnings. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine January 2010 vol. 77 1 19-27.
Image source: Amazon, used for illustrative purposes only - NOT a suggestion to purchase any medications.
- chronic users of alcohol
- malnourished
Although no consensus has been reached on what is a safe dose in patients with liver disease, 4 g/day is too much: a total daily dose of no more than 2 g is recommended to decrease the risk of toxicity in these patients.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering banning acetaminophen-narcotic combination products.
References:
Acetaminophen: Old drug, new warnings. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine January 2010 vol. 77 1 19-27.
Image source: Amazon, used for illustrative purposes only - NOT a suggestion to purchase any medications.