Acetaminophen toxicity occurs when an individual consumes a dosage that exceeds the liver's capacity to safely metabolize the drug. The liver converts acetaminophen into non-toxic substances that are excreted from the body. However, when the safe metabolic pathways become saturated, an alternative metabolic pathway produces a toxic metabolite called N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI). This metabolite can cause severe liver damage if not neutralized by glutathione.
