Original Report

Estimates of acetaminophen (paracetomal)-associated overdoses in the United States

  1. Parivash Nourjah PhD*,
  2. Syed Rizwanuddin Ahmad MD, MPH,
  3. Claudia Karwoski Pharm D,
  4. Mary Willy PhD

Article first published online: 18 NOV 2005

DOI: 10.1002/pds.1191

Issue

Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety

Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety

Volume 15, Issue 6, pages 398–405, June 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Nourjah, P., Ahmad, S. R., Karwoski, C. and Willy, M. (2006), Estimates of acetaminophen (paracetomal)-associated overdoses in the United States. Pharmacoepidem. Drug Safe., 15: 398–405. doi: 10.1002/pds.1191

Author Information

  1. Office of Drug Safety, Division of Drug Risk Evaluation, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA

*Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 10903 New Ham Avenue, 3414 Building 22, Silver Spring, MD 20993.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 1 JUN 2006
  2. Article first published online: 18 NOV 2005
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 11 MAR 2005
  4. Manuscript Revised: 25 FEB 2005
  5. Manuscript Received: 5 OCT 2004

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Keywords:

  • acetaminophen;
  • drug;
  • overdose;
  • deaths;
  • NHAMCS;
  • NEISS;
  • NHDS

Abstract

Objective

To estimate the number of acetaminophen-associated overdoses in the United States and identify possible risk factors for intervention.

Methods

The investigators obtained estimates of acetaminophen-associated overdoses using different national databases. Two emergency room databases, a hospital discharge database, a national mortality file, and a poison surveillance database were used to identify cases. The FDA's spontaneous reporting system was searched to identify possible root causes for overdoses.

Results

Analysis of national databases show that acetaminophen-associated overdoses account for about 56 000 emergency room visits and 26 000 hospitalizations yearly. Analysis of national mortality files shows 458 deaths occur each year from acetaminophen-associated overdoses; 100 of these are unintentional. The poison surveillance database showed near-doubling in the number of fatalities associated with acetaminophen from 98 in 1997 to 173 in 2001. AERS data describe a number of possible causes for unintentional acetaminophen-associated overdoses.

Conclusions

Each year a substantial numbers of Americans experience intentional and unintentional acetaminophen-associated overdoses that, in severe cases, lead to serious illness and possible death. This summary of a series of analyses highlights the need for strategies to reduce this public health burden. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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