OBJECTIVES To determine whether a serious paracetamol overdose in the medical television drama Casualty altered the incidence and nature of general hospital presentations for deliberate self poisoning. DESIGN Interrupted time series analysis of presentations for self poisoning at accident and emergency departments during three week periods before and after the broadcast. Questionnaire respons...

However, we disagree with Dr Lee that the toxicity should be attributed solely to rectal paracetamol. Firstly, the pharmacokinetics of rectal paracetamol have been extensively studied, and it has been suggested that even a rectal regimen of 25 mg/kg every 6 hours for a mean of 2 to 3 days did not result in supratherapeutic concentration. Secondly, because oral and rectal paracetamol are metabol...

OBJECTIVE Paracetamol is the most common cause of acute liver failure (ALF) in many countries. Much data on paracetamol toxicity originate from liver transplant centers and tertiary referral institutions. The authors analyzed the population-based annual incidence of paracetamol overdoses and ALF, and described the risk factors for hepatotoxicity. METHODS A search was undertaken for the diagno...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects on suicidal behaviour of legislation limiting the size of packs of paracetamol and salicylates sold over the counter. DESIGN Before and after study. SETTING UK population, with detailed monitoring of data from five liver units and seven general hospitals, between September 1996 and September 1999. SUBJECTS People who died by suicidal or accidental overdos...

BACKGROUND Overdose is one of the commonest causes of medical admissions to UK hospitals. In Scotland (pop. 5.1 million), all NHS hospital discharge data is uniquely linked to enable identification of individuals re-presenting with the same diagnosis. AIM To examine trends in discharges for poisoning, in particular paracetamol, antidepressants and opioids from 1990-99. DESIGN Retrospective ...

In an analysis of 160 patients with fulminant hepatic failure, the frequency of renal failure in the patiens who had taken an overdose of paracetamol was not significantly higher than in those with hepatic failure due to other causes. The same was found in another group of patients with less severe hepatic damage. In both the latter group and the patients with fulminant hepatic failure, the dev...

In September 2012, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) substantially amended the Marketing Authorisation for acetylcysteine following an extensive review. The present study examined the impact of this license change on patterns of acetylcysteine use in patients presenting to hospital after paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose. Between September 2011 and April 2013, 78...

BACKGROUND An overdose of paracetamol is a frequent reason for liver and renal toxicity and possible death and curcumin has hepatoprotective properties against liver damage. The exact mechanism of such protection is not clear. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the molecular levels of the protective effect of curcumin on paracetamol overdose induced hepatic toxicity in rats. METHO...

Paracetamol is a popular analgesic drug and its overdose may cause toxicity in the kidney. Prunus laurocerasus L. (PL) an important folklore medicinal plant that has antioxidant properties. This study explores effects of PL fruit water ethanol-water extracts administrations on oxidative stress paracetamol-induced nephrotoxicity. For this purpose, 30 rats were divided into 5 groups: control, neg...

OBJECTIVES: Paracetamol overdose is common and can lead to fulminant hepatic failure. In cases that are not improving with standard medical therapy N-acetylcysteine, some patients may require liver transplant. The Australia New Zealand (ANZ) referral criteria for transfer a unit have been extensively studied its predictive value. aim of this study was evaluate the ANZ predicting mortality in pa...