The dangers and complications of abuse of seemingly simple paracetamol
Paracetamol overdose poses significant dangers, primarily leading to **liver failure**, which can be fatal. Symptoms may not appear immediately; often, patients experience nausea and abdominal pain after 24 hours. Severe complications can include **kidney failure**, **hypoglycemia**, and **metabolic acidosis**. In cases of massive overdose, symptoms may escalate to confusion, jaundice, and even coma. Timely treatment with N-acetylcysteine can mitigate liver damage if administered within eight hours of ingestion; otherwise, the risk of severe outcomes increases dramatically[1][2][3].
Citations:
[1] Paracetamol Overdose: Symptoms and Treatment – Patient.info https://patient.info/treatment-medication/paracetamol-overdose
[2] Paracetamol poisoning – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracetamol_toxicity
[3] Paracetamol – uses, side effects and how to take it | healthdirect https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/paracetamol