Beyond the dose: unmasking 'therapeutic' paracetamol toxicity in a chronic alcohol user with severe acidosis-a case report.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Paracetamol (PCM), widely used for its analgesic and antipyretic properties, is generally considered safe at recommended doses. However, its metabolism can be significantly altered in chronic alcohol users due to enzyme induction and glutathione (GSH) depletion. While some clinicians maintain that "therapeutic" doses remain harmless in alcoholics, others argue there is no safe threshold. This case report bridges these opposing views by highlighting an atypical presentation of PCM-induced toxicity in a chronic alcoholic. It adds to existing literature by illustrating how severe lactic acidosis may overshadow more typical hepatic symptoms, thereby delaying diagnosis and treatment.

Case description

A 53-year-old male with a 20-year history of alcohol use presented to

SUBMITTER: Abdullah WHAABW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12593094 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature