Paracetamol is an indispensable item in our medicine cabinet. For a minor headache, body ache, or fever, we quickly reach for a paracetamol pill. To be precise, the chemical name of this medicine is Acetaminophen. But did you know that this familiar medicine can be very dangerous to your body, especially your liver, if not used properly? Today we are talking about the most important test done at a time like this, the acetaminophen blood test.
Simply put, what is this acetaminophen blood test?
This is a very simple blood test. It measures the amount of acetaminophen (paracetamol) in your blood. This test is ordered if a doctor suspects that someone, whether a baby, child, or adult, has taken too much paracetamol. The results help doctors determine whether the person has paracetamol poisoning, how serious it is, and what treatment is needed.
The most important thing is that a paracetamol overdose is a medical emergency . If you have even the slightest suspicion that something like this has happened to you or your child, you should seek medical advice immediately without delay.
Why can this familiar medicine be dangerous?
Paracetamol is a very safe medicine when taken in the correct dose and for the correct duration. But the problem starts when you take too much.
Almost every medicine we take is filtered out of the body and the toxins are removed by our liver. Think of the liver as a filter. If you take a large amount of paracetamol at once, this filter cannot handle it. Then those toxic particles accumulate inside the liver and start causing serious damage to the liver. If this situation continues, liver failure can even be life-threatening.
Accidental overdose of paracetamol
This often happens due to ignorance. For example, some cold and cough medicines (especially syrups) contain paracetamol. So if someone takes a paracetamol tablet for fever and also drinks a cold syrup at the same time, the amount of paracetamol entering the body can double without realizing it. Therefore, it is very important to read the label of any medicine you take carefully.
So what is the correct dosage of paracetamol?
- For adults: In general, it is not recommended to take more than 4,000 milligrams (mg) of paracetamol in 24 hours. If we are talking about the 500mg tablets that we usually take, do not take more than 8 tablets per day. Also, it is not recommended to use paracetamol for more than 10 consecutive days without the advice of a doctor.
- For children: The dosage for children is determined by their age and body weight . Therefore, always ask your doctor before giving paracetamol to your child to find out the correct dosage. This dosage will change as the child grows, so you should also be careful about that.
What are the symptoms of paracetamol poisoning?
Symptoms may appear within two hours of taking the medicine. However, sometimes symptoms may not appear for up to 24 hours. These symptoms are the same for adults and children.
| Symptom | Description |
|---|---|
| Digestive system problems | Stomach ache, nausea, vomiting, bloating, loss of appetite. |
| Body changes | Excessive sweating (Hyperhidrosis) , excessive fatigue, drowsiness. |
| Breathing difficulties | Difficulty breathing (Dyspnea) . |
| Mental changes | Inability to concentrate, irritability, memory loss. |
| Symptoms of liver damage | Pain under the ribs on the right side, yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) . |
| Other serious symptoms | Loss of consciousness, dark urine, blood in the urine (hematuria) , decreased urine output. |
How to take the test and the results
You don't need to do anything special to prepare for this test. The doctor will take a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm. You may feel a slight stinging sensation when the needle is inserted, but it won't be too painful. The blood sample will then be sent to a lab, where you can get the results within a few hours.
What do the results say?
Your doctor will explain the results to you in detail. Usually,
- If the paracetamol level in the blood is less than 150 mcg/mL 4 hours after taking the medicine, the risk of liver damage is low.
- But if this level is higher than 200 mcg/mL , the risk of liver damage is higher.
If this level of risk is indicated, there is a special medicine that the doctor will prescribe to protect the liver. It is called Acetylcysteine .
Sometimes, the doctor may do this test several times, at intervals of 4-6 hours, to see how the paracetamol level in the blood changes over time.
What should you do immediately if you suspect you have taken too much paracetamol?
This is the most important thing you need to know.
1. Don't wait for symptoms to appear: If you have the slightest suspicion that you or your child has taken too much paracetamol, go to the nearest hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately, without waiting for symptoms to appear.
2. Give accurate information: Tell the doctor the type of medication you took, the amount you took, and the time you took it. If you have any boxes or bottles of paracetamol you took, bring them with you.
3. Seek expert advice: You can call the National Poison Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for further advice in this regard.
Remember, the sooner you start treatment, the less damage you can do to your liver. So time is of the essence here.
Take-Home Message
- Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) is a safe medicine only if taken in the correct dosage.
- Never exceed the dosage recommended by a doctor. Be especially careful when giving it to children.
- Whenever giving paracetamol to a child, ask your doctor for the correct dosage for the child's weight and age.
- Paracetamol overdose is a life-threatening medical emergency.
- If you suspect something like this, go to a hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately, without waiting for symptoms to appear.
- Medicines taken for other illnesses (especially cough and cold syrups) may also contain paracetamol, so read the label of all medicines carefully.
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