Acetaminophen and acetylcysteine dose and duration: Past, present and future

• Published in: Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.) Vol. 50; no. 2; pp. 91 - 98
• Main Authors: Rumack, Barry H, Bateman, D Nicholas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa Healthcare 01.02.2012; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Acetaminophen - poisoning; Acetylcysteine; Acetylcysteine - administration & dosage; Antidotes; Drug Overdose; Humans; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Paracetamol; United States; United States Food and Drug Administration; United States

Abstract Acetylcysteine has been utilized successfully in the treatment of acetaminophen overdose since the 1970s. Although prospective trials as to efficacy and safety of acetylcysteine were conducted, there were no randomized controlled trials. This commentary addresses the reasons for this, and t...