paracetamol Flashcards
1
Q
briefly tell pcm
A
-Paracetamol is an acetanilide derivative and is synthesized from phenol.
-It is an analgesic for mild to moderate pain and is used as an antipyretic too.
-The mechanism of action is poorly understood. It was thought that paracetamol had no effect on the cyclo-oxygenase (COX) enzyme but recent findings suggest that it is highly selective for COX-2.
-The adult dose is 4 g per day in divided doses.
-Paracetamol has good bioavailability as an oral preparation but has poor and variable bioavailability as a rectal preparation.
-It is the most common cause of acute liver failure in the United Kingdom but worldwide the most common cause is the hepatitis viruses.
