Effects of alcoholism on acetaminophen pharmacokinetics in man

As a nonspecific measure of increased metabolic clearance, the kinetics of acetaminophen was studied in a group of nondrinking controls and alcoholics who had ceased drinking within the previous 48 hours. After a single 1-Gm dose of acetaminophen, blood levels showed a significant increase in nondrinking controls over the alcoholics. The area under the curve for the alcoholics was smaller than that for the controls. Further studies are indicated to determine the quantities of the various metabolites of acetaminophen in both groups.