Treatment of paracetamol (acetaminophen) poisoning with N-acetylcysteine.
Fifteen patients with paracetamol (acetaminophen) poisoning were treated with intravenous N-acetylcystein (300 mg/kg given over 20 h). Mean admission and 4 h plasma-paracetamol concentrations were 262 and 369 microgram/ml, respectively. Liver-function tests remained normal or were only slightly disturbed in 11 of 12 patients treated within 10 h of paracetamol ingestion. Severe liver damage developed in the other patient and in the three in whom treatment was started more than 10 h after paracetamol ingestion. In contrast to cysteamine, N-acetylcysteine was very well tolerated and has the advantage of being available as a pharmaceutical preparation in a 20% sterile solution.
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000506:poisoning*; D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003543:Cysteamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged
D000082:Acetaminophen; D003543:Cysteamine; D008715:Methionine; D000111:Acetylcysteine