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- Title
Antiemetic Use in Acetaminophen Poisoning: How Does the Route of N-acetylcysteine Administration Affect Utilization?
- Authors
Miller, Melissa A.; Navarro, Marisela; Bird, Steven B.; Donovan, Jennifer L.
- Abstract
Introduction: We sought to compare antiemetic use after acetaminophen poisoning in patients treated with oral or intravenous (IV) N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Methods: Our retrospective chart review identified 20 orally treated patients and 17 IV-treated patients. For both groups, we calculated the total number of antiemetic doses given, their associated cost, and also determined parameters that correlated with antiemetic use. Results: IV-treated patients received fewer total antiemetic doses than those receiving oral NAC (1.1±0.2 vs. 2.8±0.7; P=0.04). Antiemetic cost correlated with doses received for both groups; however, because the regression lines differed (P=0.02), antiemetic therapy cost was less in IV-treated patients. In addition, serum acetaminophen concentration correlated with total antiemetic doses in oral NAC patients (P<0.002) but not with IV treatment patients (P=0.78). Conclusions: Intravenous NAC reduced antiemetic utilization, and it costs less than oral therapy. Furthermore, antiemetic use appeared to be determined by a combination of acetaminophen concentration and NAC administration route.
- Subjects
ANTIEMETICS; ACETAMINOPHEN; DRUG toxicity; DRUG dosage; ORAL drug administration; INTRAVENOUS therapy
- Publication
Journal of Medical Toxicology, 2007, Vol 3, Issue 4, p152
- ISSN
1556-9039
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/BF03160931