Definition

Acetaminophen is a common over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication. Tylenol is one brand of this medication. Acetaminophen poisoning is an overdose of this medication. It can cause damage to the liver.

The overdose may happen as an accident or an intentional overdose. This can be a serious condition that will need medical care.

Causes

Acetaminophen poisoning may occur as a result of one large dose or several small overdoses over a long period of time. An overdose of acetaminophen can result from:

• Intentional overdose such as a suicide attempt
• Accidental overdose—may occur with unsupervised children, adults with altered judgment, or adults abusing alcohol
• Use of combinations of different medications that contain acetaminophen

Certain chronic diseases can make you more vulnerable to this type of overdose. For example, people with liver damage can have acetaminophen poisoning at lower doses. Poisoning can also happen if acetaminophen is taken along with other substances that harm the liver, such as alcohol.

Risk Factors

Factors that may increase your chance of acetaminophen poisoning include:

• Heavy alcohol use
• Using multiple medications that contain acetaminophen
• Suicidal behavior

Symptoms

At first, a person with acetaminophen poisoning may have no symptoms.

When symptoms develop, they can include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Symptoms of liver failure:
  • Anorexia—no interest in eating
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Discomfort
  • Abdominal pain—especially in the upper-right portion of the abdomen
  • Excessive sweating
  • Jaundice
  • Confusion, sleepiness

Diagnosis

You will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. Blood tests may be done to:

• Determine the level of acetaminophen in your blood
• Check liver function
• Assess the effect on the liver

Treatment

Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include:

Prevention

To help reduce your chance of acetaminophen poisoning:

• Follow your doctor’s directions or the directions on the package:
  • Follow the recommended dose and duration of therapy. Do not take more doses per day than recommended.
  • Always ask your doctor if you have questions.
• Do not substitute sustained-release acetaminophen for immediate-release acetaminophen without adjusting the dosing interval.
• Avoid taking multiple medications that contain acetaminophen:
  • Read the ingredient list on medication labels. Look to see if the medication has acetaminophen.
  • Beware combination medications like cold medication
• When a new prescription is filled, tell your pharmacist if you are taking acetaminophen.
• Avoid taking acetaminophen during periods of prolonged fasting.
• Avoid heavy alcohol intake. Do not drink alcohol if you are taking medications that contain acetaminophen.

Healthy Children—American Academy of Pediatrics http://www.healthychildren.org

Safe Kid—Children’s Health & Safety Association http://www.safekid.org

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Ferner RE, Dear JW, Bateman DN. Management of paracetamol poisoning. BMJ. 2011;342:d2218.

Frithsen I, Simpson W. Recognition and management of acute medication poisoning. Am Fam Physician. 2010;81(3):316-323.

Lavonas EJ, Reynolds KM, Dart RC. Therapeutic acetaminophen is not associated with liver injury in children: a systematic review. Pediatrics. 2010;126(6):e1430-e1444.

Vassallo S, Khan AN, Howland MA. Use of the Rumack-Matthew nomogram in cases of extended-release acetaminophen toxicity. Ann Intern Med. 1996;125(11):940.

8/8/2011 DynaMed’s Systematic Literature Surveillance
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed:
McNeil Consumer Healthcare announces plans for new dosing instructions for Tylenol products. Johnson & Johnson website. Available at: http://www.jnj.com/connect/news/all/mcneil-consumer-healthcare-announces-plans-for-new-dosing-instructions-for-tylenol-products. Accessed September 3, 2015.