The effect of alcohol on the toxicity of acetaminophen in mice

A previous study with human subjects has shown that a low dose of alcohol, consumed prior to the ingestion of a therapeutic dose of acetaminophen, significantly reduced the excretion of acetaminophen-mercapturic acid. This study suggested that alcohol may be of value as an antidote in cases of acetaminophen overdose, by inhibiting the oxidative metabolism of acetaminophen. The present report describes our results in using alcohol as an antidote for acetaminophen overdose in the mouse model. We have observed that 0.2 ml per animal of 19% alcohol, given at 3 - 4 hours after an LD50 dose of acetaminophen, produced a 24 hour survival of 92%. N Acetyl-cysteine produced 100% survival. Changes in either the dose or timing of the alcohol produced smaller increases in survival (75%), and in no case of alcohol treatment was survival less than control levels (50%). Alcohol thus appears to be an effective antidote for acetaminophen overdose in the mouse model, when given at an appropriate time and dose. It remains to be determined whether these results are applicable to human subjects.