A 19-year-old man presents to the emergency department 10 hours after intentionally ingesting 40 tablets of paracetamol 500 mg (total 20 g). He has na...

Question

A 19-year-old man presents to the emergency department 10 hours after intentionally ingesting 40 tablets of paracetamol 500 mg (total 20 g). He has nausea and right upper quadrant discomfort. This occurred as a single acute ingestion. What is the most appropriate management?

Accepted Answer

Commence intravenous N-acetylcysteine immediately

Answer

Reassure; level will be low after 10 hours

Answer

Give activated charcoal only

Answer

Wait for serum paracetamol level before starting treatment

Answer

No treatment is required as he is asymptomatic

au-amc MCQ (SBA): Paracetamol poisoning

A 19-year-old man presents to the emergency department 10 hours after intentionally ingesting 40 tablets of paracetamol 500 mg (total 20 g). He has nausea and right upper quadrant discomfort. This occurred as a single acute ingestion. What is the most appropriate management?