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How Long Would The Symptoms For Long Term Usage Of Paracetamol Take To Appear?
Question: Hi I have a query regarding paracetamol; If someone takes paracetamol over the course of a few days and are not sure if they have taken too many, how long would it take for symptoms to appear and what would they be? If no symptoms have appeared after 48 hours are they ok?
Brief Answer:
It usually takes 36 hours for symptoms to appear.
Detailed Answer:
HI
Thanks for posting your query.
Well the symptoms and the time to take symptoms de4pend on the dose of Paracetamol taken.
Most of the people will not have any symptoms for the first 24-36 hours. After that mild symptoms like Abdominal Pain , Nausea or vomiting can occur. These symptoms are due to gastric irritation caused by Paracetamol.
Next if the dose is significant it causes damage to the liver causing the following symptoms :
Bleeding tendencies like blood in urine , blood vomiting, bleeding from nose or gums.
Altered conscious levels
Sweating.
The symptoms usually start after 36 hours but just because nothing has happened even after 48 hours doesn't mean that everything is fine .
If at all excess consumption has happened kindly go to ER, the doctors will do a blood test which will detect the level of paracetamol and treat you ( if at all required )
Hope this information was useful to you.
Any clarifications feel free to ask.
Regards.
It usually takes 36 hours for symptoms to appear.
Detailed Answer:
HI
Thanks for posting your query.
Well the symptoms and the time to take symptoms de4pend on the dose of Paracetamol taken.
Most of the people will not have any symptoms for the first 24-36 hours. After that mild symptoms like Abdominal Pain , Nausea or vomiting can occur. These symptoms are due to gastric irritation caused by Paracetamol.
Next if the dose is significant it causes damage to the liver causing the following symptoms :
Bleeding tendencies like blood in urine , blood vomiting, bleeding from nose or gums.
Altered conscious levels
Sweating.
The symptoms usually start after 36 hours but just because nothing has happened even after 48 hours doesn't mean that everything is fine .
If at all excess consumption has happened kindly go to ER, the doctors will do a blood test which will detect the level of paracetamol and treat you ( if at all required )
Hope this information was useful to you.
Any clarifications feel free to ask.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you Doctor. I have been reading up on this for a medical course I am attending later this year, in regards to the toxicity of the paracetamol following digestion I have read that this is at its maximum 72-96 hours after ingestion? and then if the patient survives this period then they enter the recovery period which is the 4th stage and the liver will gradually begin to repair, subject to the dose originally taken
Brief Answer:
Its true but again the other conditions has to be considered.
Detailed Answer:
HI
Thanks for the follow up.
First of all , best of luck for the course.
Yes what you have read is correct but the phase depends on the dose of ingestion, any associated drugs or alcohol ingestion, condition of the liver ( is it healthy or diseased ) overall condition of the patient etc.
But assuming that everything else is fine then the Paracetamol overdose can be divided into 4 phase:
Phase 1 : No symptoms would could last for 24-36 hours.
Phase 2 : Mild gastric symptoms due to gastric irritation like nausea, vomiting. Sweating can also be seen due to low blood sugars.
Phase 3 : Stage of Liver Damage--Pain abdomen, bleeding, altered conscious level ( Hepatic Encephalopathy ) and Renal failure.
Phase 4 : Stage of Recovery -- This occurs if the patient survives from Phase 2/3. This depends on the dose of ingestion and the timing of institution of treatment. This phase starts after 4th days and may last for 2-4 weeks .
But if there are other substance or alcohol ingestion or if there was prior liver disease or if the patient has cardiac problem or malnourished these phase may occur early or patient might directly present in phase 2 or 3 .
Hope this information was useful to you.
Any clarifications feel free to ask.
Regards.
Its true but again the other conditions has to be considered.
Detailed Answer:
HI
Thanks for the follow up.
First of all , best of luck for the course.
Yes what you have read is correct but the phase depends on the dose of ingestion, any associated drugs or alcohol ingestion, condition of the liver ( is it healthy or diseased ) overall condition of the patient etc.
But assuming that everything else is fine then the Paracetamol overdose can be divided into 4 phase:
Phase 1 : No symptoms would could last for 24-36 hours.
Phase 2 : Mild gastric symptoms due to gastric irritation like nausea, vomiting. Sweating can also be seen due to low blood sugars.
Phase 3 : Stage of Liver Damage--Pain abdomen, bleeding, altered conscious level ( Hepatic Encephalopathy ) and Renal failure.
Phase 4 : Stage of Recovery -- This occurs if the patient survives from Phase 2/3. This depends on the dose of ingestion and the timing of institution of treatment. This phase starts after 4th days and may last for 2-4 weeks .
But if there are other substance or alcohol ingestion or if there was prior liver disease or if the patient has cardiac problem or malnourished these phase may occur early or patient might directly present in phase 2 or 3 .
Hope this information was useful to you.
Any clarifications feel free to ask.
Regards.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
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