Is it really possible to have an accident if cold medicine is mixed?
Recently, an online news item triggered a heated discussion:
Just take a cold medicine, how can it be serious enough to enter ICU? In fact, taking cold medicine is not as simple as we thought.
Just taking cold medicine, how did you get into ICU?
Most cold medicines contain one ingredient-acetaminophen.
Acetaminophen, also known as acetaminophen and paracetamol, is very common and is the first choice for children with fever, which is relatively safe.
How can this medicine, which can even be used by children, cause liver failure? The reason is very simple-take it in combination. The most common mistake is:
- Take 2 or more cold medicines containing acetaminophen together. That is, I took a medicine containing acetaminophen and another medicine containing acetaminophen. I took a cold medicine containing acetaminophen and a medicine containing ibuprofen. As the news at the beginning of the article, one cold medicine contains acetaminophen, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with ibuprofen. The combination of the two drugs leads to aggravation of adverse drug reactions.
The adverse reactions of acetaminophen are:
If it is used repeatedly, especially for a long time with high dose, it can cause the increase of liver transaminase. Overdose use can lead to obvious abnormal liver function, and there are reports of liver failure and even death.
FDA also believes that overdose of acetaminophen may lead to serious liver damage, even liver failure and even death.
Which drugs contain acetaminophen?
Then someone will say, who has nothing to do with taking so many cold medicines? In fact, what many people do not realize is that most compound cold medicines contain acetaminophen, and adding one more medicine may lead to accidental overdose.
Generally speaking, adults should not take more than 500 milligrams of acetaminophen at one time, the interval between two medications should not be less than 6 hours, the maximum daily intake should not exceed 2,000 milligrams, and the course of treatment should not exceed 3 days.
Compared with the data in the above table, taking two drugs at the same time can easily exceed the proper dosage at one time.
Do 3 points to avoid acetaminophen poisoning
Avoid taking 2 or more cold medicines containing acetaminophen at the same time. For compound preparations, more attention should be paid to the ingredients.
If you take cold medicine containing acetaminophen, do not take medicine containing ibuprofen at the same time.
If you take cold medicine containing acetaminophen, you must not drink alcohol.
However, it is not to say that drugs containing acetaminophen cannot be taken. As a common antipyretic, acetaminophen is still very safe as long as it is taken according to the dosage.
Acetaminophen is just one of the risks involved in overdose of any drug.
Finally, I hope we will never encounter the news at the beginning of the article. Before taking the medicine, we must carefully read the instructions or consult a doctor or pharmacist. In case of erythema or edema symptoms caused by mistake, please stop taking the medicine immediately and seek medical treatment immediately.