Citation

Blieden M, Paramore LC, Shah D, Ben-Joseph R. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2014; 7(3): 341-348.

Affiliation

Evidera, 430 Bedford St, Suite 300, Lexington, MA 02420, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Informa Healthcare)

DOI

10.1586/17512433.2014.904744

PMID

24678654

Abstract

Acetaminophen is a commonly-used analgesic in the US and, at doses of more than 4 g/day, can lead to serious hepatotoxicity. Recent FDA and CMS decisions serve to limit and monitor exposure to high-dose acetaminophen. This literature review aims to describe the exposure to and consequences of high-dose acetaminophen among chronic pain patients in the US. Each year in the US, approximately 6% of adults are prescribed acetaminophen doses of more than 4 g/day and 30,000 patients are hospitalized for acetaminophen toxicity. Up to half of acetaminophen overdoses are unintentional, largely related to opioid-acetaminophen combinations and attempts to achieve better symptom relief. Liver injury occurs in 17% of adults with unintentional acetaminophen overdose.

Language: en