Acetylcysteine for acetaminophen overdose in patients who weigh >100 kg

Am J Ther. 2014 May-Jun;21(3):159-63. doi: 10.1097/MJT.0b013e3182459c40.

Abstract

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) dosing for acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is weight based (150 mg/kg intravenous or 140-mg/kg oral loading dose) and, in the United States, the dosing protocol recommends using a maximum patient weight of 100 and 110 kg, respectively. Little clinical data describe the use of NAC for APAP poisoning in patients weighing >100 kg. The aim of this study was to describe the demographics, outcomes, and adverse event (AE) rates of patients weighing >100 kg treated with oral or IV NAC for APAP poisoning. Patients were identified from a multicenter retrospective NAC safety study for APAP overdose. We included patients with a recorded weight. Trained chart abstractors used a standardized form. Selected data included age, gender, weight, serum alanine transaminase, and aspartate transaminases, coingestants, NAC administration route, ingestion type, AEs, and outcome [hepatotoxicity (alanine transaminase > 1000 U/L), liver transplant, or death]. Descriptive statistics were used. Of 503 study patients, 37 (7.4%) had recorded weights >100 kg. The median (range) weight was 110 kg (101-160). The median (range) dosing for patients treated with oral NAC was 140 mg/kg (127-143 mg/kg) and 150 (108-168) mg/kg for IV NAC. Hepatotoxicity occurred in 12/36 (33.3%) patients. Death occurred in 4/36 (11.1%) patients. Thirteen NAC-related AEs occurred in 8 patients (1.6 per person). All AEs were related to NAC and were rated nonserious by the reviewer. Clinicians use an actual weight-based NAC dose rather than a maximum weight cutoff dose. Hepatotoxicity was common in our cohort. AEs were relatively common but not serious.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetaminophen / poisoning*
  • Acetylcysteine / administration & dosage*
  • Acetylcysteine / adverse effects
  • Administration, Intravenous
  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • Antidotes / administration & dosage*
  • Antidotes / adverse effects
  • Body Weight
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / epidemiology
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / etiology*
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / prevention & control
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Overdose
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Antidotes
  • Acetaminophen
  • Acetylcysteine