Acetylcysteine for Paracetamol / Acetaminpohen poisoning (no emergency)
November 23, 2016 12:36 AM Subscribe
[This is NOT a question relating to an immediate case of paracetamol poisoning] What is the procedure for oral administration of acetylcysteine in cases of acetaminophen / paracetamol poisoning? And how much benefit is there in earlier administration within the critical 8 hour window after overdose?
I take 1500mg acetylcysteine (NAC) daily as a supplement to combat hair pulling. Have done for a couple of years now, and have found it to be very effective. As such, I always make sure to have a decent stock, buying it in bottles of 200 x 500mg capsules.
Given that paracetamol poisoning is both (relatively) common and extremely serious, and given that NAC seems to be the definitive antidote, I figure it would be worth knowing whether / how administration of my supply should be used if I ever encounter such a situation.
(Context - I've had a conversation with a colleague this morning whose been taking the maximum prescribed dose of paracetamol for the past few days for severe laryngitis, and who woke up in the middle of the night last night and was sore tempted to exceed the 24 hour dose. I live minimum 30 minutes' drive from the nearest emergency hospital. I work in the outdoor hospitality industry and have first aid at work and basic outdoor first aid training.)
I take 1500mg acetylcysteine (NAC) daily as a supplement to combat hair pulling. Have done for a couple of years now, and have found it to be very effective. As such, I always make sure to have a decent stock, buying it in bottles of 200 x 500mg capsules.
Given that paracetamol poisoning is both (relatively) common and extremely serious, and given that NAC seems to be the definitive antidote, I figure it would be worth knowing whether / how administration of my supply should be used if I ever encounter such a situation.
(Context - I've had a conversation with a colleague this morning whose been taking the maximum prescribed dose of paracetamol for the past few days for severe laryngitis, and who woke up in the middle of the night last night and was sore tempted to exceed the 24 hour dose. I live minimum 30 minutes' drive from the nearest emergency hospital. I work in the outdoor hospitality industry and have first aid at work and basic outdoor first aid training.)
This post was deleted for the following reason: Hey, sorry, but the problem here -- beyond even the issue of "one shouldn't practice medicine without a license" -- is that even if you were to intervene in an emergency, doing so via the medical advice of random people online is even worse. Please check with your country's Poison Control hotline or info line, or an appropriate medical professional. -- taz
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