Alcoholic liver disease: is acetaminophen safe?

Journal of Family Practice, August, 2007 by James D. Worriax, Jennifer E. Yates, Donna Flake, Joseph J. Saseen

(4.) Zimmerman HJ, Maddery WC. Acetaminophen (paracetamol) hepatotoxicity with regular intake of alcohol: analysis of instances of therapeutic misadventure. Hepatology 1995; 22:767-773.

(5.) Dart RC, Kuffner EK, Rumack BH. Treatment of pain or fever with paracetamol (acetaminophen) in the alcoholic patient: a systematic review. Am J Therapeutics 2000; 7:123-134.

(6.) Kuffner EK, Dart RC, Bogdan GM, Hill RE, Casper E, Darton L. Effect of maximal daily doses of acetaminophen on the liver of alcoholic patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Arch Inter Med 2001; 161:2247-2252.

(7.) Herrera JL, O'Brien BL. Important information for patients with chronic liver disease and/or cirrhosis. In McNally PR, DeVault KR, Surawicz CM, eds. Common GI Problems, vol 3. Available at: www.acg.gi.org/patients/cg p/cgpvol3.asp#liver. Accessed on June 26, 2007.

(8.) Kaplowitz N. Liver and Biliary Diseases. Baltimore, Md: Williams and Wilkins; 1996.

FAST TRACK

Do not exceed 3 g daily for any prolonged period, according to a warning from the American Liver Foundation

Therapeutic dosing of acetaminophen in the alcoholic patient is not associated with hepatic injury

James D. Worriax, MD, Jennifer E. Yates, MD Coastal AHEC, Family Medicine Residency, Wilmington, NC

Donna Flake, MSLS, MSAS Coastal AHEC Health Sciences Library at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Wilmington, NC