Is overdose with acetaminophen usually accidental or intentional?
In the U.S., suicide attempts account for over two thirds of acetaminophen-related liver injury, whereas accidental overdose accounts for only one third of the cases. In young children, accidental overdose accounts, surprisingly, for an even lower percent of the cases. That is, among these often-curious toddlers, accidental overdose is responsible for less than 10% of the instances of acetaminophen toxicity. Moreover, the vast majority of these accidental overdoses were due to unintentional overdoses given by the caregivers of the children. How can accidental overdose be avoided in adults? To avoid unintentional overdoses among adults, here are some suggestions. • Read the labels of the medication bottles carefully and determine the amount or strength of acetaminophen in each pill or spoonful. • Become familiar with all of the other medications that you are taking. Remember that over 200 drugs contain acetaminophen as one of the ingredients and that certain drugs, such as phenobarbital
