Acetaminophen: attention poisoning!

Acetaminophen is the leading cause of drug poisoning in Quebec. When the Quebec Poison Control Center receives a call on a drug intoxication, this pain is because once almost five. This is reflected in the final compilation of the calls received by the agency in 2007: 22 441 acute drug identified 4 137 (18.4%) were due to excessive use of acetaminophen. Why the drug rather than another? "Because it is easily accessible and it was used frequently, sometimes without knowing it is present in more than 900 pharmaceutical products," says Dr. René Blais, toxicologist and medical director of the Poison Center of Quebec. Both children and adults No wonder, therefore, that both children and adults are victims of acetaminophen poisoning. In 2007, 45% of these poisonings affecting 0 to 5 years, while adults (18 years and over) accounted for 46% of cases. According to Dr. Blais, in children is often an accidental ingestion poisoning which explains, for example by drinking the bottle of syrup against fever that contains acetaminophen. "In adults, the classic case is the use of Tylenol in addition to other drugs against pain that also contain acetaminophen, resulting in an overdose harmful, sometimes fatal," said toxicologist. The maximum dose of acetaminophen for adults is 4 grams per day. It is therefore important to check the content of acetaminophen medications you use. "In excess of 4 g per day, we may becoming intoxicated, and quickly, warns Dr. Blais. It can damage his liver irreversibly. " Beware of alcohol! Although many often have the habit of taking Tylenol (or its generic) when they have drunk too much, its use should be made with caution. People who take more than three alcoholic drinks per day - like alcoholics - are most vulnerable to poisoning, because the combined effect of alcohol and acetaminophen can be very damaging to the liver. It is also preferable to take ibuprofen (Advil ®, Motrin ®, or generic) to relieve a headache after drinking too much. What to do in case of poisoning? Poisoning acetaminophen does not cause symptoms in the early days, said Dr. Blais. But after 48 hours - and even more - to experience nausea or pain in the liver. In such cases, one can reach the Poison Control Center of Quebec where we evaluate the case and the person's needs. In case of danger, we will send to the emergency room, where she could receive an antidote, depending on the severity of intoxication.