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DRUG STUDY- Acetaminophen

Drug Name Dosage & Route Action Indication Adverse Effects Contraindication Nursing responsibility
Adults Antipyretic: • Analgesic- • CNS: Headache • Contraindicated • Do not exceed the
ACETAMINOPHEN Reduces fever by with allergy to recommended
(a-seat-a-mee'noe- acting directly on
antipyretic in • CV: Chest pain,
PO or PR patients with acetaminophen. dosage.
dyspnea,
fen) the hypothalamic aspirin allergy, • Use cautiously • Consult physician if
myocardial
heat-regulating hemostatic with impaired needed for children <
By suppository, 325– damage when
center to cause disturbances, hepatic function, 3 yr; if needed for
650 mg q 4–6 hr or doses of 5–8 g/day
Suppositories: vasodilation and bleeding chronic longer than 10 days; if
PO, 1,000 mg tid to are ingested daily
sweating, which diatheses, alcoholism, and continued fever,
qid. Do not exceed 4 for several weeks
helps dissipate upper GI pregnancy, severe or recurrent
Abenol (CAN), g/day. or when doses of 4
heat. disease, gouty lactation. pain occurs (possible
Acephen g/day are ingested
arthritis for 1 yr serious illness).
PEDIATRIC
Analgesic: Site • Arthritis and • Avoid using multiple
Oral: PATIENTS
and mechanism of • GI: Hepatic preparations
rheumatic toxicity and
action unclear. disorders containing
Aceta, Apacet, PO or PR failure, jaundice acetaminophen.
involving
Atasol (CAN), . musculoskelet
• GU: Acute kidney Carefully check all
Genapap, Genebs, Doses may be failure, renal OTC products.
al pain (but
Liquiprin, Mapap, repeated 4–5 tubular necrosis • Give drug with food if
lacks clinically
Panadol, Tapanol, times/day; do not • Hematologic: GI upset occurs.
significant
Tempra, Tylenol exceed five doses in Methemoglobinemi • Discontinue drug if
antirheumatic
24 hr; give PO or by a—cyanosis; hypersensitivity
and anti-
Classification: suppository. hemolytic anemia— reactions occur.
inflammatory
effects) hematuria, anuria; • Treatment of
Antipyretic Age Dosage • Common cold, neutropenia, overdose: Monitor
(mg) leukopenia,
flu, other viral serum levels
0–3 mo 40 pancytopenia,
Analgesic and bacterial regularly, N-
4–11 mo 80 thrombocytopenia,
(nonopioid) infections with acetylcysteine should
12–23 mo 120 hypoglycemia
pain and fever be available as a
2–3 yr 160
4–5 yr 240
• Unlabeled use: • Hypersensitivity: specific antidote;
Prophylactic Rash, fever basic life support
6–8 yr 320
for children measures may be
9–10 yr 400
receiving DPT necessary.
11 yr 480
vaccination to
reduce Teaching Point:
incidence of
fever and pain
• Do not take for longer
Student Nurses’ Community

than 10 days.
• Take the drug only for
complaints indicated;
it is not an anti-
inflammatory agent.
• Avoid the use of other
over-the-counter
preparations. They
may contain
acetaminophen, and
serious overdosage
can occur. If you need
an over-the-counter
preparation, consult
your health care
provider.
• Report rash, unusual
bleeding or bruising,
yellowing of skin or
eyes, changes in
voiding patterns.