3 ms·

I’ve never heard of this particular overdose. In the US it’s completely unmonitored and I’ve never heard of an overdose. I’m genuinely surprised.

by DougN7 1y ago

OJFord 1y ago
It's unfortunately quite easy to do even inadvertently (not following dosage instructions) - doesn't take a lot. The reason for the rule though was to combat its use in suicide attempts. They also have to be sold in blister packs here for the same reason, not the big bottles of Tylenol/Advil etc. that you get there (and we used to here) - relatively difficult to take several, requires more preparation than just chugging a bottle.
padjo 1y ago
“A study of cases of acute liver failure between November 2000 and October 2004 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US found that paracetamol was the cause of 41% of all cases” from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracetamol_poisoning https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracetamol_poisoning
- yencabulator 1y ago
  From that wikipedia page: > In adults, single doses above 10 grams or 200 mg/kg of bodyweight, whichever is lower, have a reasonable likelihood of causing toxicity. 10g is 20 pills of the highest strength you'll find in a regular store. Excedrin brand "Extra Strength" is half of that, you'd have to be eating 40+ pills in 24 hours, or 20+ pills per day on multiple consecutive days. Most acetaminophen pills have 100-200 mg of the active ingredient. You're missing the context: > Intentional overdosing (self-poisoning, with suicidal intent) is frequently implicated in paracetamol toxicity.[25] In a 2006 review, paracetamol was the most frequently ingested compound in intentional overdosing.[26] So, it's not that acetaminophen will kill that easily. It's just that of the easily available ways to kill yourself, it's distinctly the one that destroys the liver quick.

I’ve never heard of this particular overdose. In the US it’s completely unmonitored and I’ve never heard of an overdose. I’m genuinely surprised.

by DougN7 1y ago

I’ve never heard of this particular overdose. In the US it’s completely unmonitored and I’ve never heard of an overdose. I’m genuinely surprised.

OJFord 1y ago

It's unfortunately quite easy to do even inadvertently (not following dosage instructions) - doesn't take a lot. The reason for the rule though was to combat its use in suicide attempts. They also have to be sold in blister packs here for the same reason, not the big bottles of Tylenol/Advil etc. that you get there (and we used to here) - relatively difficult to take several, requires more preparation than just chugging a bottle.

padjo 1y ago

“A study of cases of acute liver failure between November 2000 and October 2004 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US found that paracetamol was the cause of 41% of all cases” from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracetamol_poisoning https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracetamol_poisoning

yencabulator 1y ago
From that wikipedia page: > In adults, single doses above 10 grams or 200 mg/kg of bodyweight, whichever is lower, have a reasonable likelihood of causing toxicity. 10g is 20 pills of the highest strength you'll find in a regular store. Excedrin brand "Extra Strength" is half of that, you'd have to be eating 40+ pills in 24 hours, or 20+ pills per day on multiple consecutive days. Most acetaminophen pills have 100-200 mg of the active ingredient. You're missing the context: > Intentional overdosing (self-poisoning, with suicidal intent) is frequently implicated in paracetamol toxicity.[25] In a 2006 review, paracetamol was the most frequently ingested compound in intentional overdosing.[26] So, it's not that acetaminophen will kill that easily. It's just that of the easily available ways to kill yourself, it's distinctly the one that destroys the liver quick.