| Acetaminophen poisoning is now the most common cause of acute liver failure in
the United States. Attempted suicides account for many cases,
but almost half are the result of unintentional overdose. Unintentional Overdose Worse Than Intentional
Some 36 percent of Americans take acetaminophen at least once a month, making it
the most widely used pain reliever in the United States. Taking
more than the recommended dose, however, can lead to fatal liver injury.
And those who had unintentionally taken overdoses usually have even worse
outcomes than those who has done so intentionally, since unintentional overdoses are
usually not recognized as such immediately.
Cases Nearly Doubled Over Five Years
Researchers examined the case histories of almost 700 liver-failure patients over
a six-year period. They found that:
 | Cases of acute liver failure blamed on acetaminophen use rose sharply from 28
percent in 1998 to 51 percent five years later. |
 | More patients overdosed unintentionally on acetaminophen (48 percent) than did so
intentionally (44 percent) |
 | Sixty-three percent who accidentally overdosed used a prescription acetaminophen
compound while 38 percent had been taking two acetaminophen meds at the same time.
|
 | Some patients had been taking less than 4 grams of acetaminophen daily before
their livers failed. |
As Little as 7.5 Grams Per Day
The data suggests that consistent use of as little as 7.5 grams of acetaminophen a day
may be hazardous. Rather than resulting in chronic illness, acetaminophen injury has a
threshold of safety that, when exceeded, can have immediate and devastating results. |