title: Effervescent paracetamol poisoning: a case report.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Service des Urgences, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 10, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium. franck.verschuren@yucom.be
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Verschuren
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thys
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wittebole
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Janssens
authors.forename: Abdulwalhed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elgariani
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marion
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meert
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wallemacq
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hantson
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reynaert
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000082:Acetaminophen; D000431:Ethanol; D000111:Acetylcysteine