Acetaminophen and pregnancy

Executive Summary

N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an antidote for acetaminophen toxicity, "should be initiated early after acetaminophen overdosage in pregnancy to prevent harm to both the mother and fetus," a study published in the November Southern Medical Journal states. "Limited data based mainly on case reports suggests that NAC may be safely administered during pregnancy and should be initiated early" after overdose, Jason Wilkes, MD, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, et al., conclude. Authors reviewed literature published from 1966 to present that was obtained through the OvidMEDLINE database. A study of pregnant women who overdosed on acetaminophen that was conducted at the Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Center found that delivery of "normal infants" was more likely among women who had been administered NAC within 10 hours of overdose than in women treated within 16-24 hours...