Fomepizole should not be used more liberally in paracetamol overdose

Fomepizole is a promising new treatment for preventing liver injury following paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose. However, we need robust clinical trials to be performed to demonstrate its effect on clinical outcomes that are important to our patients and important to healthcare providers. Until such trials are performed, the toxicology community should learn the lessons from the COVID pandemic-potential novel therapeutic options may be theoretically appealing, but their effectiveness needs to be assessed in robust clinical trials before they are used in clinical practice.

Automated summary

Fomepizole shows promise as a new treatment for preventing liver injury caused by acetaminophen overdose, but robust clinical trials are needed to evaluate its effects on important clinical outcomes for patients and healthcare providers. Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic should be learned, emphasizing the importance of assessing the effectiveness of potential novel therapeutics through rigorous clinical trials before their use in clinical practice.