HEPATOTOXICIDADE CAUSADA PELO USO EXCESSIVO DO PARACETAMOL

Abstract

Paracetamol also known as acetaminophen, is an over-the-counter drug widely used all over the world, with excellent analgesic, antipyretic action and very low anti-inflammatory activity. The low cost along with the ease of purchasing this drug in Brazil has been one of the main factors in relation to self-medication and consequently causing hepatotoxicity. Given this scenario, the aim of this study is to analyze the scientific evidence on the hepatotoxicity of the indiscriminate useof paracetamol in humans and also the N-acetyl-cysteine ​​used in current treatment as an antidote to paracetamol. To obtain the data presented, a methodological process of the narrativebibliographic review type was used, with searches carried out between the months of March and November 2021. Scientific articles, master's dissertations and doctoral theses were used to formulate the results and answers about of the problematization. Searches were conducted in the main free databases available, National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), National Library of Medicine (NLM) and Google Scholar. As a result, it was possible to verify that when the maximum limit of 4 grams of paracetamol per day for adults weighing approximately 70 kg is not respected, there is an overload of the hepatic metabolism, with excessive production of N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine, a reactive metabolite of paracetamol which decreases hepatic glutathione, an antioxidant that protects hepatocytes from possible damage, which may cause liver necrosis (PEREIRA, 2018). In addition to the widely known and used N-acetyl-cysteine, some phytotherapeutics have been tested in laboratory animals in which the results are very promising for treatment in humans.