University of Utah Study Reveals New Method for Treating Tylenol Overdose

March 29, 2012

Acetaminophen, more commonly known as Tylenol, is a powerful analgesic often taken to lessen the effects of headaches, fevers, sore throats and other painful conditions. In addition to Tylenol, acetaminophen can be found in prescription pain relievers such as Vicodin and Percocet and over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as Nyquil.

Though acetaminophen can ease the symptoms of chronic pain or illness, it has also been proven to be an extremely dangerous drug. Many people tend to take more painkiller than is recommended by doctors, pharmacists or medicine labels. For example, by taking only five times the recommended dose - a small margin in medical terms - unsuspecting individuals may subject themselves to liver or kidney damage or even death.
Prompt Action Required for Survival

It is critical for physicians to quickly and accurately diagnose liver failure and then take appropriate action. For some patients, that means beginning a treatment regimen. For others, survival depends on a liver transplant; so doctors must quickly determine if a transplant will be required for survival and then place the patient on the transplant list. If the physician is unable to do so promptly, the patient may miss the window when the transplant can be done successfully.

Doctors have been challenged, however, to diagnose and treat properly when overdose patients are admitted in a comatose state or are unable to communicate due to confusion. That is why the results of a recent study conducted by the University of Utah's program in mathematical biology have been so welcomed in the medical community.
Recent Mathematical Research Offers Hope

Led by Fred Adler, a mathematics and biology professor who coauthored the study, a team of University of Utah mathematicians developed a set of calculus calculations to aid physicians in efforts to save Tylenol overdose patients. These calculations use four common medical tests to estimate how much of the medication was ingested and when. Further, the calculations determine if the patient will need a transplant to survive.

Once the calculations were determined, the researchers tested them, retrospectively, on the records of 53 overdose cases treated at the University of Utah's University Hospital. By testing the equations on the "patients," researchers made predictions as to which patients survived and which required liver transplants. Overwhelmingly, the calculations proved accurate when compared to the actual outcomes.

Though the initial study's findings prove hopeful, the researchers are calling for another clinical trial. If the calculations again prove successful, they may prove to be a simple and effective tool for doctors to put into practice immediately.
Legal Protection of Rights Essential

Every year, more than 50,000 people visit the emergency room for acetaminophen overdose with about half of those being admitted to the hospital for treatment. About 500 deaths each year are attributed to acetaminophen. Further, the drug has been identified as the leading cause of liver failure in the United States.

If you or a loved one has suffered liver damage due to acetaminophen use, compensation for the loss may be available. To discover which legal avenues may be available, it is important to consult with an experienced drug litigation lawyer.

Article provided by Babbitt, Johnson, Osborne & Le Clainche, P.A.
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