Austin Health

Title
N-acetylcysteine regimens for paracetamol overdose: time for a change?
Publication Date
2016-12
Author(s)
Wong, Anselm
Graudins, Andis
Subject
Acetaminophen
Acetylcysteine
Antidote
Type of document
Journal Article
DOI
10.1111/1742-6723.12610
Abstract
Paracetamol overdose is one of the commonest pharmaceutical poisonings in the world. For nearly four decades, intravenous acetylcysteine regimens have been used to treat most patients successfully and prevent or mitigate hepatotoxicity. However, the rate of occurrence of adverse reactions to acetylcysteine is quite high, and there is a potential for these to be reduced. Recent studies show that distributing the loading-dose of acetylcysteine over the first few hours of treatment may decrease the incidence of adverse reactions. In addition, varying the duration of acetylcysteine administration may potentially benefit certain cohorts of poisoned patients, depending on their risk of developing hepatotoxicity.
Link
Citation
Emergency Medicine Australasia : EMA 2016; 28(6): 749-751
Jornal Title
Emergency Medicine Australasia : EMA

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