J Emerg Med
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Multicenter Study
Outcomes of Patients With Premature Discontinuation of the 21-h Intravenous N-Acetylcysteine Protocol After Acute Acetaminophen Overdose.
The minimum recommended treatment duration for i.v. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) after an acute, single acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is 21 h. Some have questioned whether shorter courses may be sufficient in carefully selected cases. ⋯ In this retrospective analysis of patients treated with < 21 h of i.v. NAC for acute APAP overdose, the incidence of hepatotoxicity and coagulopathy was low, despite delays to NAC treatment.