Abstract

Acetaminophen is generally regarded as a safe antipyretic and analgetic agent and is widely used in cases of pregnancy. However, acetaminophen is also one of the most frequently reported medications in cases of drug overdose. On the other hand, in the few instances described in the literature, where normal doses of acetaminophen administered during pregnancy may have had a fatal outcome, evidence existed pointing to a history of liver disease. It is therefore of interest that the patient in this report who died of liver failure after ingesting standard doses of acetaminophen also suffered from intrahepatic cholestasis during pregnancy although there was no history of liver disease. Other than these instances, there have been no previous reports in the literature of a normal, therapeutic dose of acetaminophen having a fatal outcome in pregnancy. This case emphasizes the need for caution when prescribing acetaminophen during pregnancy to patients with a history of liver disease, regardless of whether the liver function has returned to normal.


Author Details

Authors

• Yu Gao
• Rui Zhang
• Hua Liang
• Yan Huang

Departments

• Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China

Address

Rui Zhang, MD
Department of Pharmacy
Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital
School of Medicine
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
NO.1617 Riyue Avenue, Qingyang District
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
Email: [email protected]

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