BACKGROUND To determine the pharmacokinetics (PK) of a new i.v. formulation of paracetamol (Perfalgan) in children ≤15 yr of age. METHODS After obtaining written informed consent, children under 16 yr of age were recruited to this study. Blood samples were obtained at 0, 15, 30 min, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h after administration of a weight-dependent dose of i.v. paracetamol. Paracetamol concentrat...

Treatment of paracetamol intoxication consists of administration of N-acetylcysteine, preferably shortly after paracetamol ingestion. In most countries, the decision to treat patients with N-acetylcysteine depends on the paracetamol plasma concentration. In the literature, different arguments are given regarding when to treat paracetamol overdose. Some authors do not recommend treatment with N-...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether non-pharmaceutical retail outlets are aboding to the current Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) national guidelines for over-the-counter (OTC) sales of aspirin and paracetamol. METHODS Stages 1 and 2 of the study deployed eight and four medical students, respectively, to undertake a mystery shopper style investigation. Stage 1: eight medi...

The effects of caffeinated and non-caffeinated paracetamol administration, with or without vitamins A and E supplementation on the protein and enzyme levels in Wistar albino rats were investigated using caffeinated paracetamol and paracetamol as caffeinated and non-caffeinated paracetamol respectively, and water soluble acetic acid derivatives of vitamins A and E. Serum AST, ALT and ALP levels ...

Paracetamol has always been regarded as a useful and safe drug. The risk of toxicity with repeated supratherapeutic paracetamol is an underrecognised condition. We report on a 12-month-old boy who presented with hepatotoxicity, disseminated intravascular coagulation and persistent renal insufficiency 4 days after repeated ingestion of a supratherapeutic dosage of paracetamol. To the best of our...

Paracetamol was polymerized in a reaction mixture containing xanthine oxidase, xanthine and paracetamol. This polymerization reaction was not inhibited by allopurinol or KCN, indicating that neither the molybdenum sites nor the iron-sulphur centres of the enzyme were involved in this catalytic activity. Removal of the flavin centres from the enzyme, however, completely abolished paracetamol oxi...

OBJECTIVE To determine the risk: benefit of paracetamol combined with caffeine in the short-term management of acute pain conditions. DESIGN Database searches were conducted to identify double-blind trials comparing paracetamol/caffeine with paracetamol alone (benefit analysis) and any data pertaining to hepatotoxicity of paracetamol when combined with caffeine (risk analysis). INTERVENTION...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between the availability of paracetamol and its use for overdose and suicide. DESIGN Analysis of routinely collected information on time trends for paracetamol suicides, non-fatal overdoses, and sales. SETTING England and Wales and France. RESULTS There were strong correlations between trends in paracetamol sales in the UK and trends in non-fatal ...

AIM No randomized study has been conducted to investigate the use of intravenous paracetamol (acetaminophen, APAP) for the management of fever due to infection. The present study evaluated a new ready-made infusion of paracetamol. METHODS Eighty patients with a body temperature onset ≥38.5°C in the previous 24 h due to infection were randomized to a single administration of placebo (n = 39) o...

Paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) causes acute and chronic renal failure. While the mechanisms leading to hepatic injury have been extensively studied, the molecular mechanisms of paracetamol-induced nephrotoxicity are poorly defined. Paracetamol induced cell death with features of apoptosis in murine proximal tubular epithelial cells. While paracetamol increased the expression of the d...