Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Poisoning

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Poisoning Overview

Acetaminophen is one of the most common medications found in households. It is used for the treatment of pain and to lower fever.

Over many years, it has been used countless times by many people and it has proven to be a safe and effective medication. However, if taken in excess amounts (overdose, whether on purpose or by accident), acetaminophen can cause life-threatening illness.

• Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in Tylenol. It is also found in many other over-the-counter medications you can buy at the drug store and in prescription drugs your doctor prescribes: Common names include Actifed, Alka-Seltzer Plus, Benadryl, Butalbital, Co-Gesic, Contac, Darvocet, Excedrin, Fioricet, Lortab, Midrin, Norco, Percocet, Robitussin, Sedapap, Sinutab, Sudafed, TheraFlu, Unisom With Pain, Vick's Nyquil and DayQuil, Vicodin, Wygesic, and Zydone.
  
• Acetaminophen in overdose can seriously damage the liver. If the damage is severe, a liver transplant may be necessary in order to save a life.
  
  • The antidote to acetaminophen overdose is N-acetylcysteine (NAC). It is most effective when given within 8 hours of ingesting acetaminophen. Indeed, NAC can prevent liver failure if given early enough. For this reason, it is absolutely necessary that acetaminophen poisoning be recognized, diagnosed, and treated as early as possible.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Poisoning Causes

Illness from acetaminophen overdose is caused primarily by liver damage.

• Acetaminophen is primarily metabolized by the liver. Too much acetaminophen can overwhelm the way the liver normally functions.
• If the liver is already damaged because of infection, alcohol abuse, or other illness, a person may be more susceptible to damage from acetaminophen overdose. For this reason, people with liver illnesses or people who chronically consume large amounts of alcohol should be particularly careful when taking acetaminophen and should consult their doctor prior to taking acetaminophen compounds. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently recommends that anyone consuming more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day should not take acetaminophen or other over-the-counter pain medications.
• Long-term use of acetaminophen in recommended doses has not been shown to be harmful to the liver, even when combined with moderate alcohol consumption.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Poisoning Symptoms

Soon after taking an overdose of acetaminophen, you may have no symptoms from taking a toxic amount. You may remain symptom free for up to 24 hours after taking a toxic overdose of acetaminophen.

After this initial period, the following symptoms are common:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Not feeling well
• Not able to eat or poor appetite
• Abdominal pain

When to Seek Medical Care

You must call a doctor, a poison control center, or emergency medical services for any suspected acetaminophen overdose.

Overall it is important that anyone suspected to have taken an overdose of acetaminophen get treatment early, before symptoms occur. Starting treatment early can greatly improve the outcome.

Seek emergency medical care at a hospital's emergency department.

• If the person suspected to have taken an overdose of acetaminophen is unconscious, semiconscious, or not breathing, call 911 immediately.
• Go to the hospital's emergency department if the poison control center tells you to go.
• Seek emergency care if you are unsure of the types and amounts of medication taken.
• If a child took acetaminophen without adult supervision and may have taken an overdose, seek immediate medical attention.