Contents:
- Medical Video: Preventing Tylenol Overdose in Kids
- Symptoms of paracetamol overdose
- Causes of paracetamol overdose
- In children
- In adults
- Effects of paracetamol overdose on the body
Medical Video: Preventing Tylenol Overdose in Kids
Paracetamol or other names acetaminophen is a fever-lowering drug and mild to moderate pain relief. These drugs are usually sold freely on the market. However, there is also paracetamol that requires a doctor's prescription. More than 600 drugs containing paracetamol, including for babies, children and adults. If consumed in excess, it is not impossible for you to experience an overdose of paracetamol.
Symptoms of paracetamol overdose
When experiencing a paracetamol overdose, you will experience various symptoms such as:
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Gag
- Feel unwell
- Abdominal pain especially in the upper right side
Most cases of paracetamol overdose can be treated. Usually, if you experience symptoms of overdose, you need to be hospitalized. To check paracetamol levels in the body the doctor will do a blood test. Other blood tests will also be performed to examine the liver.
Causes of paracetamol overdose
The following are various reasons why a person can experience an excess dose of paracetamol.
In children
Children experience paracetamol overdose because they consume too much at one time. In addition, this can also be caused when children consume more than one drug product containing paracetamol. Another factor that is also very common is miscalculating paracetamol.
Usually, liquid paracetamol is given a packet with a measuring spoon to avoid wrong doses. However, many parents do not use the default measuring spoon and prefer to use the spoon available at home.
As a result, the dosage given can be too much. Sometimes, because of the taste and color like syrup, the child also drinks it without the parents' knowledge. So, the risk of overdose is inevitable.
In adults
In adults, the advantages of paracetamol are caused by:
- Eating the next dose is too fast without giving enough pause.
- Take several drugs that contain paracetamol at the same time.
- Take paracetamol with a dose that is too high.
Sometimes, you may not be aware of taking a medication that turns out to have paracetamol in it, so an overdose might occur. For example, when you cough or runny nose, you take medication that may contain paracetamol in it, then you also take headache medicine that also contains the same substance.
Well, if you consume both on the same day and unconsciously exceed the maximum daily limit, then you can get symptoms of overdose. Therefore, do not carelessly consume market drugs if you are on a treatment for other diseases.
Effects of paracetamol overdose on the body
According to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), consuming too much paracetamol can damage the liver (liver). In severe cases, an overdose of paracetamol can cause liver failure to death. In addition, you are also more at risk for liver damage when you have liver disease, drink excess alcohol, and are taking warfarin or blood thinning drugs.
The maximum daily dose recommended by the FDA is around 4,000 mg per day for adults. However, McNeil Consumer Healthcare, the manufacturer of Tylenol paracetamol recommends 3,000 mg as the maximum daily limit and this is approved by most doctors.
Paracetamol is safe if used as directed. However, because this one ingredient is a common ingredient in many drugs, you risk consuming too much without realizing it.
For that, make sure to always read the drug label before drinking it, if you find this ingredient in several different drugs that you consume today, stop taking it. Consult your doctor if all the drugs you have all contain paracetamol.
