Effervescent paracetamol poisoning: a case report.
Severe poisoning with effervescent paracetamol tablets has never been described in the literature. Indeed, the effervescent formulation contains high amounts of sodium and bicarbonate, both responsible for important emetic properties in the case of massive ingestion. Moreover, dissolving more than 6-8 tablets in the same glass appears to be difficult. We report a well-documented case of a patient with potentially hepatotoxic serum levels after the ingestion of 16 g effervescent paracetamol, apparently without vomiting. We show that the difficulties of a massive oral intake may be overcome by a slow intake. Nevertheless, this case report does not modify the important assertion that effervescent paracetamol use could limit the risk of life-threatening intoxication by a single massive acute overdose.
Verschuren
Franck
F
Service des Urgences, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 10, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium. franck.verschuren@yucom.be
Thys
Frédéric
F
Wittebole
Xavier
X
Janssens
Paul
P
Elgariani
Abdulwalhed
A
Marion
Eric
E
Meert
Philippe
P
Wallemacq
Pierre
P
Hantson
Philippe
P
Reynaert
Marc
M
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning*; D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000082:Acetaminophen; D000431:Ethanol; D000111:Acetylcysteine