Title:Acetylcysteine Therapy for Acetaminophen Poisoning
Volume: 13
Issue: 10
Author(s): Kennon Heard and Jody Green
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Acetaminophen, acetylcysteine, hepatic failure, overdose, placebo, Acetaminophen poisoning, CYP2E1, Nacetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine (NAPQI), minor metabolic pathway, therapeutic dose, hepatic injury, antidotes, glutathione, hepatic injury.
Abstract: Acetylcysteine has been used to treat acetaminophen overdose for nearly 50 years. While no placebo controlled
trials have been conducted, the efficacy of acetylcysteine is accepted for the prevention of hepatic injury when administered
early after acetaminophen overdose. Acetylcysteine can be administered as an infusion or oral solution. The duration
of treatment varies from 21 to 72 hours, depending on the protocol. Acetylcysteine also prevents death when administered
to patients with hepatic failure from acetaminophen.
