Acetaminophen is a very safe medicine when used in recommended doses to treat pain and fever. But too much acetaminophen can cause liver damage and even death. This has happened when parents didn't understand the concentration or measurements. New formulations of acetaminophen for children make it easier to give the correct dose.
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Acetaminophen is a safe and effective pain reliever when taken according to label instructions. But in overdose, it is a leading cause of liver damage and death.
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For years, parents were told to keep ipecac syrup at home. This medicine was used to make a child vomit after swallowing poison. Now, your doctor doesn't tell you to keep it. Your poison center doesn't tell you to use it. You can’t even buy ipecac in the drugstore. It is NOT necessary to keep ipecac syrup in your home.
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When swallowed by dogs, chocolate can cause nausea, vomiting, tremors, and seizures. Effects can begin within a short time. Treatment should begin quickly. There are no specific antidotes for this poisoning in animals.
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Activated charcoal is a special form of carbon that can bind other substances on its surface in a process known as adsorption. It is also effective in adsorbing drugs in the gut so the drugs don't enter the body.
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Hangovers are unpleasant symptoms that occur after the consumption of alcohol. Even though many products are marketed as hangover treatments, there is no cure for this condition. The best way to prevent a hangover is to avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.
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A borg, or “black out rage gallon”, typically contains a fifth of vodka, water, and liquid flavor enhancer. Borg drinking is popular among some college students, but consumption of the high amounts of alcohol often found in borgs can cause harmful health effects, similar to those resulting from heavy alcohol use or binge drinking.
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Spiked beverages have become increasingly common. Although they usually do not contain a high percentage of alcohol, many of the brands and names are for products that traditionally have not contained alcohol. This can cause problems when children or unsuspecting adults consume them, believing they are non-alcoholic.
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There are special poisoning concerns during the winter: family travel, family gatherings, carbon monoxide poisoning, and winter chemicals for the car.
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It is dangerous to swallow antifreeze, even in small amounts. The toxicity of antifreeze develops slowly as the body breaks down the antifreeze (ethylene glycol) into by-products that affect blood chemistry, the nervous system, and the kidneys.
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