Bach Mai Hospital treats poisoning cases from improper painkiller use

The Poison Control Center at Bach Mai Hospital has recently treated multiple cases of poisoning resulting from the unauthorized and improper use of common pain relievers and fever reducers. These incidents have led to serious complications, including acute hepatitis and liver damage.

One case involved a 73-year-old man from Thai Nguyen who consumed unidentified pain medication that had been pre-crushed and divided into small zip bags by an acquaintance. While he initially felt relief from joint pain and coughing, he later developed fatigue, loss of appetite, and dizziness.

Another patient, a 46-year-old man in Hanoi, suffered from paracetamol overdose and acute hepatitis after combining different medications. He initially took Taisho Pabron Gold A, a Japanese flu medication containing 300mg of paracetamol per pill, and subsequently took additional 500mg paracetamol tablets when symptoms persisted. Medical experts warn that the common availability of paracetamol often leads people to believe it is harmless, causing them to overlook the risks of cumulative dosage and ingredient overlap.