Acetaminophen poisoning

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) has antipyretic and analgesic effects. The drug is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, and the plasma concentration reaches the highest peak 30 to 120 minutes after oral administration (therapeutic amount). 90% of the drug is combined with glucuronic acid and sulfate in the liver and excreted from the urine; only 2% to 4% is metabolized by the cytochrome P-450 mixed function oxidase system in the liver, becoming a toxic intermediate metabolite and interacting with Glutathione binding. After the latter is exhausted, unbound metabolites bind to hepatocyte proteins, leading to hepatocyte necrosis. Adults can have hepatotoxic effects by taking 7.5 g orally once.

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