➤Paracetamol is a medicine that hardly any people can be found who doesn't know. We're just in affection with this drug. It's even hard to imagine life without this medicine. Fever? "Let me take a paracetamol", Headache? " Let me take a paracetamol", Oh! My body is in pain, "Let me take a paracetamol" the list goes on. We use it for every pain management. This drug is also available in variety of strength and dosage forms- tablet, capsule, syrup, even in injectable form.
How and when this medicine was discovered? By whom?
Interesting it is that paracetamol wasn't discovered as pain reliever at first but as fever reducer. Fever reducing compounds were found in white willow bark and cinchona bark before 1880.
In the 1880s, the number of
cinchona trees began to drop in number and alternative forms of fever reducer
were looked for. Then, in 1893, white, odorless, crystalline drug our favorite
paracetamol was discovered.
It was first found in
Germany at the University of Strasburg where a professor named Adolf Kussmaul got two of his students, Arnold Cahn and Paul Hepp, to treat
some of his patients who had intestinal worms, with napthalene (more commonly
used today as a solvent for chemical reactions or as a fumigant to repel
moths!), as it had been used by others as an internal antiseptic. It didn’t
kill the worms, but the naphthalene did reduce their fever. This was unexpected
and so they sent the bottle they’d used to the lab and the results that came
back showed that it wasn’t naphthalene, but was a drug called acetanilide.
 |
| Adolf Kussmaul |
Unfortunately acetanilide
had some fairly horrible side effects, such as cyanosis (the skin turning blue)
as a result of methemoglobinemia, which reduces the levels of oxygen in the
blood. It was determined that a less toxic compound had to be found. In 1887
the Bayer company brought in a derivative of acetanilide called phenacetin,
which was far less dangerous, and it was this drug that helped to establish
Bayer as a successful company.
Phenacetin might have
continued to be the most widely used pain-relieving drug, and paracetamol never
popularised, were it not for the fact that after 90 years of wide use,
phenacetin had increasing concerns being raised about it in relation to it
being a carcinogenic and causing kidney damage. Further research was carried
out by different scientists, but after fifty or so years of conflicting
results, in 1948 it was found by Bernard Brodie and Julius Axelrod (who went on
to win a Nobel Prize in 1970 for neurotransmitter research) that
acetanilide could be metabolised into paracetamol, and it was this that was the
antipyretic and analgesic agent in both acetanilide and phenacetin. The reason
why paracetamol was better was that phenacetin needed to be taken in a large
dose to result in any kind of pain relief. This could be damaging. Paracetamol
didn’t need nearly so much administering to be effective.
In 1950 Triagesic was
released to the market in the U.S. It was the first paracetamol product to go
on sale and was a combination of aspirin, caffeine and paracetamol. It wasn’t
there for long though. A report was released that Triagesic was causing blood
diseases, specifically a drop in people’s white blood cell counts, and as such
it was taken off the shelves. Five years later when it was clear that
paracetamol had not been the cause of the problem, paracetamol products were
back. One year later 500 mg tablets of paracetamol began to be sold in the UK
under the name Panadol. Few other analgesics were as gentle on the stomach or
came with as few side effects as paracetamol, and given that other analgesics
of that time contained aspirin which was known to irritate the stomach,
Panadol, despite being only available by prescription to begin with, soon rose
in popularity. In 1963, paracetamol was added to the British Pharmacopoeia.
What's the Use of Paracetamol?
Paracetamol belongs to a group of medicines
known as analgesics, or painkillers. It is used to relieve mild-to-moderate pain. It
is also useful for lowering a raised
temperature (fever), such as after childhood immunization.
Simply, it is a pain reliever and a fever reducer. Paracetamol is used to treat many conditions
such as headache, muscle aches, arthritis, backache, toothaches, colds, and
fevers. It relieves pain in mild arthritis but has no effect on the underlying
inflammation and swelling of the joint.
Before Taking Paracetamol-
Most people can take paracetamol without any problem, but to make sure
it is the right treatment for you, speak with a doctor or pharmacist before you
start taking it if:
·
You are pregnant or breast-feeding.
This is because, while you are expecting or feeding a baby, you should only
take medicines on the recommendation of a doctor.
·
You have a serious problem with the
way your liver works, or if you regularly drink large amounts of alcohol.
·
You are taking medicines prescribed
by a doctor.
·
You have ever had an allergic
reaction to a medicine.
How to take Paracetamol??
·
Before taking paracetamol, read the
manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside your pack. The
manufacturer's leaflet will give you more information about paracetamol and a
full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.
·
Take paracetamol exactly as you have
been told by your doctor or pharmacist, or as directed on the label of the
container.
·
Recommended doses of paracetamol
are:
·
For adults: 500 mg-1 g every 4-6
hours up to a maximum of 4 g daily.
·
For children aged 12-16 years:
480-750 mg every 4-6 hours up to a maximum of four doses daily.
·
For children aged 10-12 years:
480-500 mg every 4-6 hours up to a maximum of four doses daily.
·
For children aged 8-10 years:
360-375 mg every 4-6 hours up to a maximum of four doses daily.
·
For children aged 6-8 years: 240-250
mg every 4-6 hours up to a maximum of four doses daily.
·
For children aged 4-6 years: 240 mg
every 4-6 hours up to a maximum of four doses daily.
·
For children aged 2-4 years: 180 mg
every 4-6 hours up to a maximum of four doses daily.
·
For children aged 6 months-2 years:
120 mg every 4-6 hours up to a maximum of four doses daily.
·
For children aged 3-6 months: 60 mg
every 4-6 hours up to a maximum of four doses daily.
·
For children aged 2-3 months
following immunisation: 60 mg, repeated once after 4-6 hours if needed.
·
You can take a dose of paracetamol
every 4-6 hours if needed, up to four times a day. Remember to leave at least
four hours between doses and do not take more than four doses of paracetamol in
any 24-hour period.
·
You can take paracetamol before or
after food.
·
If you are giving paracetamol to
your child, always check the label carefully to make sure you are giving the
correct dose for the age of your child.
·
Never take more than the dose
recommended on the label. Taking too much paracetamol can cause damage to your
liver. If you suspect that you or someone else might have taken an overdose of
paracetamol, go to the accident and emergency department of your local hospital
at once, even if you/they feel well. Take the container with you so that the
doctor knows what has been taken.
·
If you forget to take a dose, do not
worry. Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.
How much Paracetamol one can take in a day??
The maximum amount of paracetamol for adults is 1 gram (1000 mg) per dose and 4 grams (4000 mg) per day. Taking more paracetamol could cause damage to your liver.
You can take a dose of paracetamol every 4-6 hours if needed but do not take more than four doses in any 24 hour period.
Can paracetamol cause problems?
Paracetamol rarely
causes side-effects when it is taken as recommended, but if you experience any
symptoms which you think may be due to it, discuss them with your pharmacist or
doctor.
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an
allergic reaction to paracetamol: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your
face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using this medication and call your doctor
at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
·
low fever with nausea, stomach pain, and loss of
appetite;
·
dark urine, clay-colored stools; or
·
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Major Side Effects-
If any of the following side effects occur while
taking paracetamol, check with your doctor immediately:
Rare
·
Bloody or black, tarry stools
·
bloody or cloudy urine
·
fever with or without chills (not present before treatment and
not caused by the condition being treated)
·
pain in the lower back and/or side (severe and/or sharp)
·
pinpoint red spots on the skin
·
skin rash, hives, or itching
·
sore throat (not present before treatment and not caused by the
condition being treated)
·
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
·
sudden decrease in the amount of urine
·
unusual bleeding or bruising
·
unusual tiredness or weakness
·
yellow eyes or skin
If any of the following symptoms of overdose occur
while taking paracetamol, get emergency help immediately:
Symptoms of overdose:
·
Diarrhea
·
increased sweating
·
loss of appetite
·
nausea or vomiting
·
stomach cramps or pain
· swelling, pain, or tenderness in the upper abdomen or stomach
area
What will happen in case of overdose of Paracetamol??
Nothing is actually good if you overdo it or take more than you need. So, does happens with paracetamol overdosing. Seek
emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this
medicine.
The
first signs of an paracetamol overdose
include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, sweating, and
confusion or weakness. Later symptoms may include pain in your upper stomach,
dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.
How much Paracetamol one can take in a day??
The maximum amount of paracetamol for adults is 1 gram (1000 mg) per dose and 4 grams (4000 mg) per day. Taking more paracetamol could cause damage to your liver.
You can take a dose of paracetamol every 4-6 hours if needed but do not take more than four doses in any 24 hour period.
What should be avoided while taking paracetamol?
Do not use any other over-the-counter cough,
cold, allergy, or pain medication without first asking your doctor or
pharmacist. Paracetamol is
contained in many combination medicines. If you use certain products together
you may accidentally use too much paracetamol .
Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains paracetamol,
acetaminophen or APAP. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication.
Alcohol may increase your risk of liver damage while taking paracetamol .
What other
drugs will affect paracetamol ?
There may be
other drugs that can interact with paracetamol . Tell your doctor about all your
prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal
products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication
without telling your doctor.
How to store paracetamol??
As paracetamol is like our daily friend, we keep it randomly anywhere which isn't right. The storing criteria of paracetamol is-
·
Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children
·
Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.
Medicines helps us to get relief from our pains but at the same time they may cause harm to our health as well if not taken as recommended or they themselves may exert side effects a lot. Before taking any medicine, before taking Paracetamol, consult with your physician to be safe and live longer, healthy and happily
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