Paracetamol poisoning: Is this common medicine slowly damaging the liver? Read this

227 deaths were recorded in England and Wales due to paracetamol overdoseStudy by the University of Edinburgh found that paracetamol can cause liver damageParacetamol remains a significant cause of acute hepatotoxicity, as evidenced by its contribution to over half of all acute liver failure cases in the United States, finds a 2020 studyWhat is common in these three statements? The use of paracetamol, a common painkiller.Paracetamol is so common that it is used for almost every ailment: for pain, fever, headache, nausea, or even when one feels uneasy. The most common doses of paracetamol are 500 and 650. For children, liquid paracetamol is available.Paracetamol was first synthesized in 1893 by Joseph von Mering. In the 1950s paracetamol was commercially used in the United States and later in other parts of the world. Ever since its marketing, paracetamol remained the most reliable medicine for pain management in children, pregnant women and adults. It is a commonly used anti-pyretic these days. Another important reason why paracetamol became a reliable medicine is that it does not affect the stomach and intestinal lining and is comparatively a safe medicine to consume. People who are intolerant to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can still take paracetamol.Paracetamol is available in the form of tablets and is orally taken. It is also known as acetaminophen. Paracetamol is used to alleviate headache pain, pain from menstrual periods, pain due to toothache, radiating pain from backache, osteoarthritis, pain due to cold or flu and fever. "The hitch is that acetaminophen also has a narrower window of safety compared with ibuprofen and naproxen. NSAIDs can make you sick, too, but it takes a larger amount to reach a dangerous overdose. Taking too much acetaminophen can damage the liver, sometimes leading to a liver transplant or death," says a report available on Harvard Health Publishing."The body breaks down most of the acetaminophen in a normal dose and eliminates it in the urine. But some of the drug is converted into a byproduct that is toxic to the liver. If you take too much — all at once or over a period of days—more toxins can build up than the body can handle," the report explains.An adult should not consume more than 1,000 mg of paracetamol in a single dose and not more than 4,000 mg per day. "The usual dose is 15 mg per kg of body weight. Liquid paracetamol comes in different strengths so it isvery important you check the strength to ensure that the dose above what is required is not administered. The dose may need to be reduced if you have liver problems," says a report available on India government's Ministry of Consumer Affairs' portal. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), use paracetamol for children only when the temperature goes above 101.3 degree F.