Panadol overdose - Symptoms and treatment

Panadol is a brand of acetaminophen. It is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceuticals. It is a very common pain relieving tablet that is available over the counter. In addition, it is one of the commonest medications that are used by many, for the first line treatment of fever.

Panadol is safe in normal dosage. But in overdose, it can cause severe liver damage that can threaten life. But Panadol is safe when it is take for long time in usual dose range. Chronic toxicity is rare if there is no severe liver impairment. It is toxic only in acute over dosage and in severe liver impairment.

Taking over dose of Panadol can kill you. It is because in overdose panadol can destroy liver cells and can cause acute fulminant hepatic failure.

What is the usual toxic dose of Panadol?

Toxic dose of Panadol is 150mg/kg body weight per day. It is lethal to take more than 200mg/kg in a day. If somebody has taken more than 150mg/kg per day then that person need specialized care and administration of the anti-dote of Acetaminophen. Usual adult toxic dose is 12g for 70kg adult. Maximum recommended adult dose is 4g per day. Maximum recommended pediatric dose is 75mg/kg per day. If above doses are exceeded for long time then patients can get chronic toxicity.

Initial symptoms of Panadol toxicity are nausea, vomiting, and excessive sweating. After sometime the patient may develop pain in the liver, liver enlargement, and signs of liver failure such as jaundice, low blood glucose. Some patients may get heart and kidney failure.

What are you going to do to a person who has taken over dose of Panadol?

It was believed earlier, induction of vomiting can be a good first aid method before taking the patient to the hospital. However, now it is not advised.

Therefore, when you detect somebody has taken an over dose of panadol then take the patient immediately to the emergency department. It is important not to induce vomiting before taking the patient to a hospital.

What will the doctors do after admitting?

Doctors will usually do a gastric lavage to take out the drug that is left in Stomach. It is done through a nasogastric tube. In addition, doctors will give activated charcoal to remove remaining Panadol from the GI tract. However, If the dose of panadol is high and the doctors are not satisfied with the above measures then they will start a medication called N Acetyl cysteine. It is the anti-dote of acetaminophen. However, it is quite expensive.

In addition, Doctors will monitor the patient for complications such as Liver failure and Kidney failure.

Panadol is a medication used for pain and fever. Overdose of Panadol can cause symptoms mainly due to liver failure. It's treatment is usually carried out in an Emergency department.