Paracetamol is one of the most used medicines to treat pain and fever symptoms, due to its analgesic and antipyretic action and, when administered according to recommendations, it has a favorable safety profile.
The greatest risk associated with its use, however, consists of ingesting doses higher than those recommended, the OF also warned, highlighting that the Overdose can cause serious and irreversible liver damage, which can lead to acute liver failure, the need for liver transplantation and, in extreme cases, death.
In less frequent cases, kidney damage may also occur, mainly associated with prolonged use and/or excessive ingestion, says the statement.
According to the order, overdose can occur through a single ingestion of a high dose or through chronic use above recommended doses and the initial symptoms generally appear within the first 24 hours and include nausea, vomiting, sweating, malaise and lethargy.
As liver damage progresses, abdominal pain may appear, progressing to serious complications, said OF, warning that, if an overdose is suspected, immediate medical assistance should be sought, even in the absence of symptoms, taking into account that treatment is more effective when started early.
The order also recalled that pharmacists play a “particularly relevant role in preventing poisoning and promoting the safe use” of medicines and, in this particular case of paracetamol, their intervention is focused on raising awareness among adolescents about the risks associated with the deliberate ingestion of high doses, including challenges promoted on social media, and their potential liver and kidney toxicity.
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