Acetaminophen

Absorption	Rapid and almost complete
Volume of distribution	Not Available
Protein binding	25%
Metabolism	Approximately 90 to 95% of a dose is conjugated in the liver with glucuronic acid and sulfuric acid. A small percentage of acetaminophen is oxidized by CYP2E1 to form N-acetyl-p-benzo-quinone imine (NAPQI), a toxic metabolite which is then conjugated to glutathione and excreted renally. Accumulation of NAPQI may occur if primary metabolic pathways are saturated. Enzyme Metabolite Reaction Km Vmax Cytochrome P450 2D6 NAPQI oxidation 1760 54.12 Cytochrome P450 1A2 NAPQI 950 0.12 Cytochrome P450 2E1 NAPQI oxidation 1290 120.84
Route of elimination	Approximately 80% of acetaminophen is excreted in the urine after conjugation and about 3% is excreted unchanged.
Half life	1 to 4 hours
Clearance	Not Available
Toxicity	Oral, mouse: LD50 = 338 mg/kg; Oral, rat: LD50 = 1944 mg/kg. Acetaminophen is metabolized primarily in the liver, where most of it is converted to inactive compounds by conjugation with glucuronic acid and, to a lesser extent, sulfuric acid. Conjugates are then excreted by the kidneys. Only a small portion is excreted in unchanged in urine or oxidized via the hepatic cytochrome P450 enzyme system (CYP2E1). Metabolism via CYP2E1 produces a toxic metabolite, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine (NAPQI). The toxic effects of acetaminophen are due to NAPQI, not acetaminophen itself nor any of the major metabolites. At therapeutic doses, NAPQI reacts with the sulfhydryl group of glutathione to produce a non-toxic conjugate that is excreted by the kidneys. High doses of acetaminophen may cause glutathione depletion, accumulation of NAPQI and hepatic necrosis. The maximum daily dose of acetaminophen is 4 g. Liver failure has been observed at doses as low as 6 g per day. As such, the maximum daily and single dose of acetaminophen is currently being reviewed in some countries. N-acetyl-cysteine, a precursor of glutathione, may be administered in the event of acetaminophen toxicity.
Affected organisms	Humans and other mammals
Pathways	Not Available