Dangers of Paracetamol

Paracetamol is relatively safe and it is one of the commonly used analgesic-antipyretic agents. With therapeutic doses dangers are very rare. Side effects may include allergic skin reactions. Regular intake of large doses over a long period of time may cause kidney damage. Two or three times of the maximum therapeutic dose (actually the toxic dose) are really dangerous. It can cause serious liver damage and potentially fatal. Renal toxicity also can occur.
Normally Paracetamol is conjugated in the liver with glucuronide or sulfate and eliminated from the body. But when a toxic dose is taken these enzymes become saturated and the excess amount of Paracetamol is metabolized by cytochrome p450 system in the liver. This produces a dangerous substance known as N-acetyl-pbenzoquinone imine. But liver glutathione system can detoxify this substance. When it becomes depleted N-acetyl-pbenzoquinone imine start damaging the liver cells. In people whose cytochrome p450 system is induced like in alcoholics this condition is much more severe. Treatment for this condition is to administration of drugs those stimulate the glutathione production in the liver. But to achieve maximum effects these drugs should be administered as quickly as possible. So even though Paracetamol is a very popular drug one should always keep in mind these potentially fatal dangerous side effects.