Evidence Hub

Paracetamol toxicity: epidemiology, prevention and costs to the health-care system

Sheen CL, Dillon JF, Bateman DN, Simpson KJ, Macdonald TM

QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians, 2002

Abstract

Paracetamol has been used as an analgesic and antipyretic for many years, with toxicity first noted in the 1960s. Since then the incidence of poisoning has increased, and paracetamol is now the most common drug in self-poisoning, with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. The use, abuse and ways of reducing paracetamol toxicity are reviewed, but in view of the potential for harm, serious consideration should be given to changing the legal status of paracetamol, possibly to a prescription-only medicine.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free