ALCOHOLISM, NONPRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND HEPATOTOXICITY - THE RISK FROM UNKNOWN ACETAMINOPHEN INGESTION

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 76  (6) , 530-533
Abstract
An alcoholic patient developed severe hepatitis and renal failure after ingesting the contents of a 300 ml bottle of Nyquil for its ethanol content. This illness was presumably related to the 6 g of acetaminophen contained in this nonprescription preparation. Although hepatic damage with or without renal failure is usually described after a massive overdose of acetaminophen, the changes in drug metabolism induced by chronic ethanol consumption may increase the risk for acetaminophen toxicity. The large number of nonprescription acetaminophen-ethanol preparations available should be considered in evaluating an alcoholic patient seen with acute hepatic and renal dysfunction.

This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit: