Nigerians have been given a stern warning against taking an overdose of
paracetamol which has become a trend among people.
Dr Arikawe Adeolu, a medical practitioner at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi,
Abuja, has warned that an overdose of paracetamol drug could cause liver
failure within 24 hours.
Adeolu gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in
Abuja on Monday. He said that medications generally had side effects and that
some drugs, such as paracetamol, which were often abused, could lead to liver
damage.
Adeolu said, “One of the major causes of liver disease is drugs. There are some
kinds of drugs that can lead to liver damage if not taken as prescribed.
“There is one common drug that is very popular among this class of drugs
and that is paracetamol. Paracetamol if taken above the recommended dose
has the ability to damage the liver.
“An overdose of paracetamol can actually lead to liver failure within 24 hours
. This is why it is not recommended that drugs are taken by self-medication.
“Excessive consumption of alcohol is another cause of liver disease. This
substance has been shown to have a significant effect on liver function;
excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to deterioration in liver function.
“This is because it has direct damaging effect on the liver cells. A fatty liver can
also lead to liver damage.”
He explained that a fatty liver was the deposition of fats into the liver, adding
that this is usually caused by obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes and alcohol.
According to the expert, once there is a fatty liver, there is ongoing damage to
the liver, though one may not feel any immediate symptoms.
Source: Tori
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