Should I go to a hospital?

PDA

Due to a lack of oversight, I took 8 grams of acetaminophen over the last 24 hours or so. I also got pretty drunk in the middle of that. It's been like three hours since I took the remainder of the drug, and when I started feeling nauseous and feverish I thought, "hey, wait, how much have I taken today and yesterday put together?"

I know that acetaminophen is toxic in high doses (Wikipedia lists over 10g), and that it takes a long time for symptoms to surface but that the toxicity is actually life-threatening if it pans out. It's 8PM on a Sunday night so there aren't any doctors or clinics open in the area, but I could always go to the hospital.

Is it worth lugging my stupid ass over to the ER? Is there some kind of treatment or prophylaxis that I should definitely go in for immediately, or can I just probably ride this out?

My fear is that even though 8g isn't 10g, it's almost 10g, and the fact I got wasted last night probably doesn't help things. There's possibly a real risk -- albeit a small one -- that I could completely lose my liver or my life because of this ... but I don't know if there's anything the hospital could even do. Maybe someone here knows?

Awk

Seek medical attention yo

PracticalProblemSolver

There are some treatments, there's a drug, pumping the stomach and activated charcoal, they're all very time sensitive.

call the poison control hotline: 1-800-222-1222

Improvolone

PDA wrote: »

My fear is that even though 8g isn't 10g, it's almost 10g, and the fact I got wasted last night probably doesn't help things. There's possibly a real risk -- albeit a small one -- that I could completely lose my liver or my life because of this ... but I don't know if there's anything the hospital could even do. Maybe someone here knows?

No one knows what will happen, but it sounds like youre in the danger zone. Get the fuck out of the danger zone.

PDA

I had no idea why I didn't think of calling poison control, I did that and they set me up at the hospital for liver tests. I have weird priorities, this is the first place I thought of asking for help instead of somewhere legitimate like a hotline. Go figure. Thanks and sorry to have brought my lame-ass and pathetic question here!

Arfenhouse

Improvolone wrote: »

PDA wrote: »

My fear is that even though 8g isn't 10g, it's almost 10g, and the fact I got wasted last night probably doesn't help things. There's possibly a real risk -- albeit a small one -- that I could completely lose my liver or my life because of this ... but I don't know if there's anything the hospital could even do. Maybe someone here knows?

No one knows what will happen, but it sounds like youre in the danger zone. Get the fuck out of the danger zone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1a_ikfUico

But in all seriousness, get to a doctor immediately. Don't even watch that video. Watch it later, after the stomach pump. Or during.

Raiden333

You should never be combining acetaminophen and alcohol, unless liver failure sounds like a good time.

Transaminase, a liver protein, helps speed up metabolism, storage, filtration, and excretion in the liver. High transaminase levels, a characteristic of alcohol-acetaminophen syndrome, show that the liver is working overtime to metabolize both the alcohol and the acetaminophen, which is more than the liver can handle. The alcohol metabolizes at a higher rate, leaving "extra" toxic enzymes from the acetaminophen in the body's system. This excess of toxins, called "hepatotoxicity," can lead to acute liver damage or failure. Some health care providers speculate that alcohol-acetaminophen syndrome is the leading cause of acute liver damage in the United States.

So yes, I say hospital 15 minutes ago.

Dog

When in doubt, go to the hospital. This is what emergency rooms are for.

Dunadan019

you are probably fine but call the poison control hotline to be sure.

that number is for 10g at once not over 24 hours.

also, the big problem with tylenol and alchohol is that you almost certainly damaged your liver.

RubberAC

Yeah uh i don't think taking over 10g of acetaminophen over time is enough to kill you as i know a lot of people who have done it and i think ive even done it accidentally.. but combined with alcohol that shit is gonna wreck your liver and also fuck man go to a doctor or something

Avicus

Dunadan019 wrote: »

you are probably fine but call the poison control hotline to be sure.

that number is for 10g at once not over 24 hours.

also, the big problem with tylenol and alchohol is that you almost certainly damaged your liver.

The good news is that if you survuve (very very likely), any liver damage that you have taken will be easily fixed. The liver is one of the only organs in the body that reproduces its own cells.

I know a fair bit about APAP and with that 10g when within the 24 hour period was it taken? If you had only the 1g in your system when you were drinking, i don't think much if any damage would have occurred. But if you had taken 3/4 grams in the last 8/10 hours, thats when the bad shit starts.

For future reference, stay away from APAP(acetaminophen) which is tylenol and paractemol. Try to take ibuprofen instead. Ibuprofen is alot less toxic to the body and because its a NSAID(sp?) it helps much more with bleeding and swelling.

Demerdar

I am sure you will be fine, don't worry too much about it.

Just, ya know.. stop drinking tonight.