By Chioma Umeha
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 (NAN) 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.
“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,” Adeolu said.
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.
He, however, noted
that there were specific and non-specific symptoms of liver disease.
“Non-specific
symptoms are nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite, while the specific symptoms
are jaundice, abdominal swelling, pain, itching and dark coloration of urine,’’
said the expert.
He said that the
faeces of individuals with the disease may appear pale rather than the normal
brownish colour.
The expert advised
that to prevent liver disease it was important for individuals to always
undergo routine medical check-up for early detection and treatment.
He advised against
taking drugs without prescription, stating that Over-The-Counter (OTC) drugs
could be dangerous to the overall health and wellbeing of an individual.
“If you feel
unwell, go to a certified medical centre and run a diagnostic test to determine
what the problem is.
“Even if you hardly
fall sick, always ensure you do a routine check-up to rule out any possibility
of underlying diseases,” he said.
