Paracetamol is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is often used to reduce temperature and eliminate high fever in infectious diseases. The prevalence of using Paracetamol tablets is associated with the availability of the drug - it is inexpensive, you can find the drug in any pharmacy. paracetamol for headaches , because in addition to the antipyretic effect, the drug also has an analgesic effect.
Composition and dosage forms
Paracetamol is a substance from the non-steroidal non-narcotic group of analgesics with a pronounced antipyretic effect. Available in several pharmaceutical forms:
- tablets for oral administration: contain 200 or 500 mg of the active ingredient, packaged in blisters or packaging without cells;
- capsules: hard shell 500 mg;
- syrup and suspension: sweetish-tasting liquid, contains 2.4% paracetamol (24 mg per 1 ml), packaged in glass bottles of 50 and 100 ml;
- 1.5 percent aqueous solution for infusion: colorless transparent liquid in ampoules of 5 ml;
- rectal suppositories: in a dosage of 50–500 mg, packaged in cell contour plates.
Interaction with other drugs
The instructions for use of Paracetamol indicate that using the drug together with other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or painkillers can lead to toxic damage to the kidneys. Moreover, the combined use of different NSAIDs threatens the occurrence of acute renal failure - an emergency condition that requires prompt relief.
Care should be taken when prescribing Paracetamol in high doses and salicylates. There is a possibility of oncological neoplasms of the urinary system, for example, the kidney or bladder.
If a patient, for certain indications, takes drugs that inhibit the process of hematopoiesis, then the attending physician should be aware of the increased toxicity of the drug in this case. It is necessary to think about prescribing another drug or adjusting the dosage.
When a person takes anticoagulant therapy for direct indications, especially indirect anticoagulants (warfarin and other coumarin drugs), the risk of bleeding increases. At the same time, single doses of Paracetamol do not lead to bleeding; such a possibility exists only with systemic administration of the drug.
If a person is prescribed liver enzyme activators (for example, barbiturates, tricyclic antidepressants, rifampicin and other drugs), the risk of liver toxicity increases significantly, especially in overdoses.
Antiemetic drugs - metoclopramide, domperidone significantly increase the rate of absorption of Paracetamol. At the same time, cholestyramine reduces the intensity of absorption of the drug. It should be remembered that ethyl alcohol in combination with Paracetamol becomes a serious risk factor for the development of pancreatitis.
It is noted that Paracetamol can reduce the degree of activity of uricosuric drugs.
Mechanism of action
The anti-inflammatory effect of the drug is insignificant. Paracetamol mainly acts as an antipyretic and a mild analgesic. A derivative of phenacetin inhibits the production of compounds in the body that are responsible for sensitivity to pain - prostaglandins. At the same time, it affects the thermoregulation centers, reducing high body temperature.
The drug helps with pain syndromes of various origins:
- neuralgia;
- myalgia;
- joint pain;
- algomenorrhea;
- renal colic;
- toothache;
- febrile conditions accompanying acute respiratory viral infections and other infectious lesions.
Paracetamol is quickly absorbed into the blood, does not accumulate in the body, and does not irritate the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract. Metabolized in the liver. It is completely eliminated 4–5 hours after administration. The drug has a symptomatic effect: it relieves acute signs of diseases for a certain time, without affecting their intensity and duration.
Harmless paracetamol is deadly.
Paracetamol is one of the most common analgesics and antipyretics in the world, having anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic effects. It is included both in the WHO list of the most important modern medicines and in the main list of medicines necessary for medicine in the Russian Federation. However, the availability and low cost of paracetamol often provokes an overdose of this medicine in all categories of the population.
Many people treat colds on their own, without consulting a doctor and thereby not observing the dosage and combination of antipyretic and cold medications. In addition, people are poorly versed in the purpose of medications, very often taking complex medications along with medications to lower their temperature. However, they do not know that paracetamol has a very low safety bar.
December 28 at the RKB named after. ON THE. Semashko by air ambulance, due to deteriorating condition, a patient was transported from the central regional hospital, who, unfortunately, could not be saved.
“We were very worried about this patient, since she is a very young woman, only 24 years old. We offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends and children who lost their mother.
You need to take care of yourself.
One of my friends came from Italy and fell ill during the trip. As usual, I went into an Italian pharmacy and noticed that it didn’t look like a pharmacy at all. In our understanding, these are many shelves with medicines, powders, tablets, injectables; instead, at the exhibition there were various creams, personal hygiene products and everything like that. Where are the medicines? To which he was told that they had all the medications and the only thing needed was a card with the names of the medications that the doctor prescribed. And he also noticed that there are practically no medicines in television advertising, while in Russia, every second advertisement is medicine “from head to toe”, which says that when taking this or that medicine, beautiful people are beautiful recover, unfortunately this is not always the case. Moreover, the drug load can have a negative impact on the patient.
In our patient, several damaging factors came together - a weight loss diet that disrupted the functioning of the liver enzyme system, a previous infection with viral hepatitis B, the fact of which was confirmed using laboratory tests, and, in addition to everything, the drug Paracetamol, which is available in European countries and is a leading drug worldwide that attacks the liver and causes severe necrosis that often requires organ transplantation.
When this patient was admitted, she was given a set of antidote therapy measures, i.e. we administered drugs that neutralize the remnants of toxic substances, detoxification was carried out using an extracorporeal method to remove poisons and toxic compounds from the blood, unfortunately, even such intensive therapy did not allow us to stabilize her body, moreover, since we understood that a lot needs to be used We checked our possibilities and treatment with colleagues from the Federal State Budgetary Institution “National Medical Research Center for Transplantation and Artificial Organs named after. ak. IN AND. Shumakov,” leading specialists in liver transplantation provided significant assistance; we checked hours, appointments, diagnostic and therapeutic measures with them, but unfortunately the patient could not be saved.
For the residents of our republic, I would like to say that any medicine is poison - the only question is the dose. Therefore, you need to be more careful and balanced when taking medications, and, if possible, believe less in advertising and trust doctors more. Maybe I was lucky, but I have not met a single doctor who would wish harm on his patients. I think that they won’t recommend a bad doctor and it will be better if you took care of your health together with a doctor you trust! Be healthy and take care of yourself." – commented the head of ICU No. 1 Filippov Vladimir Aleksandrovich
Head of the Gastroenterology Department Tsyrempilova Aryuna Chimitdorzhiena:
“The liver is the main laboratory of our body; it performs a neutralizing, detoxifying function, i.e. cleanses the body: everything passes through it: alcohol, poor quality food, toxins contained in it, polluted surrounding air and even bad mood. It has been proven that if at least 30% of liver cells are preserved and not damaged by toxins, then our “hard worker” liver will perform all its main functions (there will be normal biochemical parameters in the blood). This is a “grateful” organ, if you follow proper nutrition, eliminate all bad habits, take hepotoxic drugs, uncontrolled use of antibacterial, non-steroidal drugs, maintain a healthy lifestyle, the liver will and will try to function normally.
On a note
Taking 100 grams of cottage cheese has a protective, hepatoprotective effect, because cottage cheese contains protein, incl. essential amino acid – methionine
You need to lose weight gradually - you need to lose no more than 300 grams per week. In our case, the patient lost 10 kg in a month, which became one of the detrimental factors that affected her body. The second factor was infection with the hepatitis B virus. Given the already damaged liver, she started taking paracetamol - 2 tablets 3 times a day together with acetylsalicylic acid. Although, even 1.5 tablets of paracetamol for the liver is considered a toxic dose. As a result, the liver could not cope with the load. Despite intensive treatment, the patient fell into a coma, after which, unfortunately, she died.
Taking medications must be taken very responsibly. Take medications only as prescribed by your doctor and follow the dosage of the medications.
Unfortunately, you very often hear in pharmacies when specialists, pharmacists standing on the other side of the counter categorically and authoritatively recommend treatment for: runny nose, allergies, diarrhea, fever, and the buyer - the patient trustingly purchases: paracetamol, nise, citramon, aspirin and many other drugs.
I would like to say TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, APPRECIATE YOUR HEALTH, BECAUSE HEALTH IS IN YOUR HANDS!!!.”
Alexandra Mikhailovna Danchinova, chief freelance clinical pharmacologist of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus: “Self-medication is dangerous!”
“First of all, we must think about the dangers of self-medication. All drugs that are approved for over-the-counter use and advertised in the media seem to be absolutely safe. In fact, no drug is safe. This also applies to such common drugs as paracetamol and acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin). These drugs belong to the group of potentially toxic substances; if the dose is exceeded, toxic properties appear. The maximum daily dose of paracetamol allowed in our country is 4 grams or 8 tablets. The patient took paracetamol 3 g - 6 tablets for 3 days simultaneously with 2 aspirin tablets and other drugs. This resulted in fatal liver damage. I strongly recommend against self-medication."
Experts urge respected residents of the Republic of Buryatia to seek medical help from doctors, carefully read instructions on the medical use of medications, take medications in recommended doses, and use medications with caution to relieve cold symptoms.
Question answer
- How to take Paracetamol for children?
The instructions for the drug indicate the dosage regimen for children. It is important for parents to remember that up to 6 years of age, a child can only take Paracetamol syrup, and at the age of 6 to 12 years, the dosage of the drug is calculated individually.
- How often can I take the drug?
When the temperature rises, the drug is allowed to be taken every 4 hours (2 tablets at a dose of 200 mg, one tablet - 500 mg). The maximum daily dose should not exceed 4 g.
- How many days can you take Paracetamol?
You are allowed to take the drug for no more than 3 days in a row. If fever or pain does not subside, you should consult a doctor.
Reviews
As soon as the temperature starts to rise, I take Paracetamol, and its rise immediately slows down. An effective and inexpensive product!
I always use Paracetamol if I feel like I'm starting to get sick. It reduces the temperature perfectly, and if you need to reduce it again, the drug can be taken every 4 hours.
I like the price of Paracetamol. The drug is absolutely accessible to all people due to its low price.
