According to the evidence currently studied, the high use of acetaminophen without a
medical prescription has made it the main causative agent of poisoning due to analgesic overdose.
The purpose of this study was to understand the mechanisms underlying the toxicity caused by
acetaminophen overdose. A descriptive and quantitative study of a sample of 381 patients was
carried out to evaluate the circulating levels of acetaminophen in the blood in relation to the
group (self-medicated and non-self-medicated) in patients who varied in age, sex, dose
consumed, use of activated charcoal, time between consumption, gastric lavage, concomitant
consumption of ethanol and clinical manifestations. The patients with the highest incidence of
acetaminophen overdose were women older than 65 years, with an average dose of 6 tablets of
500mg (3gr) and showed similar values in the level of acetaminophen regardless of the number of
doses consumed, no difference was found. Significantly in the incidence of acetaminophen
poisoning between men and women, but the clinical manifestations were predominantly
presented by men. The distribution of the population between groups 1 and 2 was approximately
equal, the percentage distribution is also similar in terms of patients with or without clinical
2
, manifestations and in whom activated charcoal was used as a digestive decontamination strategy.
No relevant relationship was found between the dose consumed and serum levels of
acetaminophen, nor was ethanol consumption evidenced as a predisposing factor for toxicity.
Key words (MeSH): Acetaminophen; Poisoning; Activated charcoal; Overdose; Gastric
lavage.
Introducción
Los medicamentos son compuestos que desempeñan un papel fundamental en la
protección y desarrollo de la salud humana, sin embargo, su uso conlleva riesgo que van más allá
de aspectos como la dosificación, almacenamiento, prescripción y distribución adecuada. La
farmacología se relaciona con la toxicología cuando la respuesta fisiológica del cuerpo hacia un
fármaco es un efecto no deseado o dañino para el mismo. El termino toxicidad, generalmente se
refiere a los efectos que causa una sobredosis, ya sea de manera accidental o intencional, o altas
concentraciones en sangre del fármaco utilizado.
El acetaminofén, introducido en la industria en 1893 y posteriormente aprobado por la
FDA en 1960, es uno de los analgésicos y antipiréticos más utilizados en el mundo; este es un
fármaco ampliamente disponible, distribuido y de venta libre; su alta eficacia, bajo costo y alta
seguridad con pocos efectos adversos y escasa interacción con otros medicamentos, determina su
alto uso sin prescripción e intoxicación teniendo consecuencias adversas para la salud. (1)
El acetaminofén es una sustancia farmacéutica ampliamente investigada en los centros de
intoxicación en relación con su uso en intoxicaciones accidentales y suicidios; en Estados unidos
se, han reportado altas cifras de intoxicación por acetaminofén, con un número significativo de
casos en menores de seis años. Además, se han observado un incremento en las muertes por
sobredosis de analgésicos, siendo el acetaminofén el agente principal involucrado.
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