Should methionine be added to every paracetamol tablet?

Authors

Alison L. Jones, University of WollongongFollow
P C. Hayes, Dept.Medicine, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh
A T. Proudfoot, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh
J A. Vale, City Hospital, Birmingham
L F. Prescott, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh

RIS ID

62479

Publication Details

Jones, A. L., Hayes, P. C., Proudfoot, A. T., Vale, J. A. & Prescott, L. F. (1997). Should methionine be added to every paracetamol tablet?. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 315 (7103), 301-303.

Abstract

Paracetamol is commonly used for self poisoning, and the costs of treating the resulting liver failure in the few who develop it are high. The morbidity could be avoided by adding methionine to paracetamol tablets, but this would mean that the millions of people who take paracetamol responsibly would have to take methionine unnecessarily. Alison Jones and colleagues and Edward Krenzelok debate the issue.