Paracetamol is one of the most commonly used analgesics for the relief of headaches , minor aches and pains in the world. It is also a major remedy for cold and flu. However, the drug has often been abused, as many take it without a doctor’s prescription while others depend on it as a prevention against headache and pains. Unknown to many, the side effects of the drug far outweigh its benefits when taken in excess. RALIAT AHMED writes
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Paracetamol is not strange to people as it is the most commonly used painkiller prescribed usually for the effective relief of pains and fever. Not many are aware of the risks or dangers associated with taking this medication at the slightest provocation due to its mild nature. While paracetamol is a safe and effective painkiller when taken correctly, the risk of dying from liver failure is very high from accidental overdose, says the latest medical research.
The Study reveals that the risk of dying from liver failure is tripled from overdose than making suicide attempts.
When parcetamol is taken, it is broken down in the liver and excreted by the kidneys. As a result, overdoses commonly lead to liver failure and damaged kidneys. Though widely advertised as a comfortingly safe painkiller, paracetamol is in fact the leading cause of acute liver failure in the world owing to the fact that it is the most abused drug in many countries.
The dangers of the drug are compounded by the fact that it is found in so many common remedies, including cough syrup, cold tablets, menstrual pain medication and headache pills.
It is very easy to increase the dose without realising the dangers, the medical researchers warned.
Eight 500mg tablets a day – the equivalent of 4g – should be the maximum daily dose.
In a study carried out in the United Kingdom, a team led by Dr Kenneth Simpson analysed data from 663 patients who had been admitted to the hospital between 1992 and 2008 with liver damage caused by paracetamol.
They found out that 161 people with an average age of 40 had taken a staggered overdose, usually to relieve stomach and back pain, headache or toothache.
Two out of five died from liver failure – a higher fatality rate than recorded for deliberate overdosing, says a report in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Dr Simpson said staggered overdoses can occur when people have pain and repeatedly take a little more paracetamol than they should.
He said: ‘They haven’t taken the sort of one-off massive overdoses taken by people who try to commit suicide, but over time the damage builds up and the effect can be fatal.
‘They are often taking paracetamol for pain and they don’t keep track of how much they’ve consumed over a few days.
‘But on admission, these staggered overdose patients were more likely to have liver and brain problems, require kidney dialysis or help with breathing and were at greater risk of dying than people who had taken single overdoses.’???
A pharmacist, Mr? Kelvin Mnguor explains:? ‘Absorption of paracetamol like every other drug starts from the liver. The normal dosage is supposed to be 1g that is two tablets of 500mg taken 3-4 times daily except in severe cases where it can be taken up to four times in a day which is about 4 g. However, a dosage of 4g a day should not be exceeded to avoid the overloading of the liver and weakening of its muscles.
According to Mnguor, Acetaminophen is the active ingredient of paracetamol which belongs to a class of drugs called analgesics and antipyretics, which is metabolised? in the liver, with a high potency of liver damage if taken in excess.
“When used appropriately, side effects with acetaminophen are rare but the potential for acetaminophen to harm the liver is increased when it is combined with alcohol or drugs that also harm the liver,” Mnguor says.
Doctors may find low levels of paracetamol in the blood of people suffering from staggered overdoses even though they are at high risk of liver failure and death. Dr Simpson said some people reacted worse to a lower dose than others, with high alcohol consumption exacerbating the problem – and it was not possible to identify them in advance.
He said 10g was the lowest amount in the study leading to death while 24g over 24 hours was a recognised fatal dose.
‘The safest thing to do is to monitor how much you’re taking and not to? exceed eight 500mg tablets in a day,” he cautioned.
Normal quantities of the drug are broken down harmlessly by the body but excessive amounts can accumulate in the liver, leading to irreversible damage.