Acetaminophen Self-Poisoning: Suicidal and Accidental

Hamid Noshad; Shahram Sadreddini; Jalal Etemadi

IJ Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

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Acetaminophen Self-Poisoning: Suicidal and Accidental

Author(s):

Hamid Noshad^1,*,

Shahram Sadreddini²,

Jalal Etemadi³

1Assistant professor of toxicology and Nephrology, Department of toxicology, Tabriz Medical University, Tabriz, Iran

2Internal medicine group, Tabriz Medical University, Tabriz, Iran

3Toxicology and Nephrology divisions, Internal medicine group, Tabriz Medical University, Tabriz, Iran

IJ Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences:Vol. 4, issue 1; 47-52

Published online:Jun 30, 2010

Article type:Research Article

Received:Mar 25, 2009

Accepted:Oct 29, 2009

How to Cite:Hamid NoshadShahram SadreddiniJalal EtemadiAcetaminophen Self-Poisoning: Suicidal and Accidental.Iran J Psychiatry Behav Sci.4(1):47-52.

Abstract

Objective: Acetaminophen is an over-the-counter drug in Iran. Intentional and accidental poisoning with this drug is one of the most frequent causes of admission to our center. We studied the outcome of poisoning with this drug in our hospital.

Methods: Over a two-year period from January 2005 to January 2007, 85 patients who were admitted to Sina Hospital for acute acetaminophen poisoning, were followed up. Identification and outcome of patients were according to a physical examination, medical history, lab data and duration of hospital stay.

Results: Acute acetaminophen poisoning occurred in both genders and all age groups. Approximately 64 percent of patients were female. Children had minimal involvement and were usually accidental poisoning type (98%). In adults, admissions were more likely to be due to suicide attempts rather than accidental poisoning. The majority of cases were in hepatotoxic dose, but clinical courses were mild. Patients, who had acutely ingested more than 150 mg/kg or predicted to be hepatotoxic due to impaired liver function testes, had a longer hospital stay but in spite of this, we did not have any mortality.

Conclusion: Overdose with acetaminophen in adults was often indications of suicidal behavior, and in children was usually of accidental type. The outcome was generally good in spite of common acetaminophen poisoning.

Keywords

Acetaminophen

Poisoning

Suicide

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