acetaminophen (redirected from Children's Tylenol Soft Chews)

Acetaminophen 

Definition

Acetaminophen is a medicine used to relieve pain and reduce fever.

Purpose

Acetaminophen is used to relieve many kinds of minor aches and pains—headaches, muscle aches, backaches, toothaches, menstrual cramps, arthritis, and the aches and pains that often accompany colds.

Description

This drug is available without a prescription. Acetaminophen is sold under various brand names, including Tylenol, Panadol, Aspirin Free Anacin, and Bayer Select Maximum Strength Headache Pain Relief Formula. Many multi-symptom cold, flu, and sinus medicines also contain acetaminophen. The ingredients listing on the container should state if acetaminophen is included in the product.

Studies have shown that acetaminophen relieves pain and reduces fever about as well as aspirin. But differences between these two common drugs exist. Acetaminophen is less likely than aspirin to irritate the stomach. However, unlike aspirin, acetaminophen does not reduce the redness, stiffness, or swelling that accompany arthritis.

Recommended dosage

The usual dosage for adults and children age 12 and over is 325-650 mg every four to six hours as needed. No more than 4 grams (4000 mg) should be taken in 24 hours. Because the drug can potentially harm the liver, people who drink alcohol in large quantities should take considerably less acetaminophen and possibly should avoid the drug completely.

For children ages 6-11 years, the usual dose is 150-300 mg, three to four times a day. A physician should recommend doses for children under age 6 years.

Precautions

In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched an advertising campaign aimed at educating consumers about proper use of acetaminophen and other over-the-counter pain killers. Often, acetaminophen is hidden in many cold and flu products and people unexpectedly overdose on the medicine. Some cases have led to liver transplantation or death. More than the recommended dosage of acetaminophen should not be taken unless told to do so by a physician or dentist.

Patients should not use acetaminophen for more than 10 days to relieve pain (five days for children) or for more than three days to reduce fever, unless directed to do so by a physician. If symptoms do not go away—or if they get worse—a physician should be contacted. Anyone who drinks three or more alcoholic beverages a day should check with a physician before using this drug and should never take more than the recommended dosage. A risk of liver damage exists from combining large amounts of alcohol and acetaminophen. People who already have kidney or liver disease or liver infections should also consult with a physician before using the drug. So should women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Many drugs can interact with one another. A physician or pharmacist should be consulted before combining acetaminophen with any other medicine. Two different acetaminophen-containing products should not be used at the same time.

Acetaminophen interferes with the results of some medical tests. Avoiding the drug for a few days before the tests may be necessary.

Side effects

Acetaminophen causes few side effects. The most common one is lightheadedness. Some people may experience trembling and pain in the side or the lower back. Allergic reactions occur in some people, but are rare. Anyone who develops symptoms such as a rash, swelling, or difficulty breathing after taking acetaminophen should stop taking the drug and get immediate medical attention. Other rare side effects include yellow skin or eyes, unusual bleeding or bruising, weakness, fatigue, bloody or black stools, bloody or cloudy urine, and a sudden decrease in the amount of urine.

Overdoses of acetaminophen may cause nausea, vomiting, sweating, and exhaustion. Very large overdoses can cause liver damage. In case of an overdose, immediate medical attention should be sought. In 2004, researchers announced that an injection to counteract the liver injury caused by acetaminophen overdose has been approved by the FDA.

Key terms

Arthritis — Inflammation of the joints. The condition causes pain and swelling.

Fatigue — Physical or mental weariness.

Inflammation — A response to irritation, infection, or injury, resulting in pain, redness, and swelling.

Interactions

Acetaminophen may interact with a variety of other medicines. When this happens, the effects of one or both of the drugs may change or the risk of side effects may be greater. Among the drugs that may interact with acetaminophen are alcohol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Motrin, oral contraceptives, the antiseizure drug phenytoin (Dilantin), the blood-thinning drug warfarin (Coumadin), the cholesterol-lowering drug cholestyramine (Questran), the antibiotic Isoniazid, and zidovudine (Retrovir, AZT). A physician or pharmacist should be consulted before combining acetaminophen with any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicine.

Resources

Periodicals

"Antidote Cleared for Acetiminophen Overdose." Drug Topics February 23, 2004: 12.

Mechcatie, Elizabeth. "FDA Launches Campaign About OTC Drug Risks: NSAIDs, Acetaminophen." Family Practice News March 15, 2004: 81

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acetaminophen /ace·ta·min·o·phen/ (ah-se″tah-min´o-fen) an analgesic and antipyretic with effects similar to aspirin but only weakly antiinflammatory.

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a·cet·a·min·o·phen (-st-mn-fn, s-)

n.

A crystalline compound used in chemical synthesis and in medicine to relieve pain and reduce fevers.

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acetaminophen

[əset′əmin′əfin]

an analgesic and antipyretic drug used in many nonprescription pain relievers. It has no antiinflammatory properties. It may be used with other products that do not contain additional acetaminophen.

indication It is often recommended for the treatment of mild to moderate pain and fever.

contraindication Known hypersensitivity to acetaminophen prohibits its use. It should not be used in the persons with liver disease.

adverse effects Among the most serious adverse reactions are anaphylaxis, hepatotoxicity, and hemolytic anemia. Overdosing can result in fatal cyanosis and hepatic necrosis. See also acetaminophen poisoning .

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acetaminophen (sē´tmin´fin),

n brand names: Tylenol, Anacin-3;
drug class: nonnarcotic analgesic;
action: thought to block initiation of pain impulses by inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis;
uses: mild-to-moderate pain, fever; also used in combination with narcotic analgesics. See also Percocet.

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acetaminophen, paracetamol

an analgesic and antipyretic drug in dogs. It is contraindicated for cats because of serious side-effects which include intravascular hemolysis, methemoglobinemia and hepatic necrosis.

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acetaminophen

Abenol (CA), Acephen, Anadin Paracetamol (UK), Apo-Acetaminophen (CA), Aspirin Free Anacin, Atasol (CA), Calpol (UK), Cetaphen, Children's Tylenol Soft Chews, Disprol (UK), Exdol (CA), Feverall, Galpamol (UK), Genapap, Genebs, Infant's Pain Reliever, Mandanol (UK), Nortemp, Pain Eze, Panadol (UK), Robigesic (CA), Silapap, Tycolene, Tylenol 8 Hour, Tylenol, Tylenol Arthritis, Uni-Ace, Valorin

Pharmacologic class: Synthetic nonopioid p-aminophenol derivative

Therapeutic class: Analgesic, antipyretic

Pregnancy risk category B

Action

Unclear. Pain relief may result from inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis in CNS, with subsequent blockage of pain impulses. Fever reduction may result from vasodilation and increased peripheral blood flow in hypothalamus, which dissipates heat and lowers body temperature.

Availability

Caplets, capsules: 160 mg, 500 mg, 650 mg (extended-release)

Drops: 100 mg/ml

Elixir: 80 mg/2.5 ml, 80 mg/5 ml, 120 mg/5 ml, 160 mg/5 ml

Gelcaps: 500 mg

Liquid: 160 mg/5 ml, 500 mg/15 ml

Solution: 80 mg/1.66 ml, 100 mg/1 ml, 120 mg/2.5 ml, 160 mg/5 ml, 167 mg/5 ml

Suppositories: 80 mg, 120 mg, 125 mg, 300 mg, 325 mg, 650 mg

Suspension: 32 mg/ml, 160 mg/5 ml

Syrup: 160 mg/5 ml

Tablets (chewable): 80 mg, 160 mg

Tablets (extended-release): 160 mg, 325 mg, 500 mg, 650 mg

Tablets (film-coated): 160 mg, 325 mg, 500 mg

⊘Indications and dosages

➣ Mild to moderate pain caused by headache, muscle ache, backache, minor arthritis, common cold, toothache, or menstrual cramps; fever

Adults: 325 to 650 mg P.O. q 4 to 6 hours, or 1,000 mg three or four times daily. Or two extended-release caplets or tablets P.O. q 8 hours, to a maximum dosage of 4,000 mg/day. Or 650 mg P.R. q 4 to 6 hours, to a maximum dosage of 4,000 mg/day.

Children: 10 to 15 mg/kg, or as indicated below:

Oral use	Usual dosage	Maximum dosage
11-12 years	480 mg q 4 hr	5 doses in 24 hr
9-10 years	400 mg q 4 hr	5 doses in 24 hr
6-8 years	320 mg q 4 hr	5 doses in 24 hr
4-5 years	240 mg q 4 hr	5 doses in 24 hr
2-3 years	160 mg q 4 hr	5 doses in 24 hr
1 year	120 mg q 4 hr	5 doses in 24 hr
4-11 months	80 mg q 4 hr	5 doses in 24 hr
0-3 months	40 mg q 4 hr	5 doses in 24 hr
12 years and older	325-650 mg q 4 hr	4,000 mg/day
11-12 years	320-480 mg q 4 hr	2,880 mg/day
6-11 years	325 mg q 4 hr	2,600 mg/day
3-6 years	120-125 mg q 6 hr	720 mg/day
1-3 years	80 mg q 4 hr	-
3-11 months	80 mg q 6 hr	-

Dosage adjustment

• Renal or hepatic impairment

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to drug

Precautions

Use cautiously in:
• anemia, hepatic or renal disease
• elderly patients
• pregnant or breastfeeding patients
• children younger than age 2.

Administration

• Be aware that although most patients tolerate drug well, toxicity can occur with a single dose.
• Know that acetylcysteine may be ordered to treat acetaminophen toxicity, depending on patient's blood drug level. Activated charcoal is used to treat acute, recent acetaminophen overdose (within 1 hour of ingestion).
• Determine overdose severity by measuring acetaminophen blood level no sooner than 4 hours after overdose ingestion (to ensure that peak concentration has been reached).

Route	Onset	Peak	Duration
P.O.	0.5-1 hr	10-60 min	3-8 hr (dose dependent)
P.R.	0.5-1 hr	10-60 min	3-4 hr

Adverse reactions

Hematologic: thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, neutropenia, leukopenia, pancytopenia

Hepatic: jaundice, hepatotoxicity

Metabolic: hypoglycemic coma

Skin: rash, urticaria

Other: hypersensitivity reactions (such as fever)

Interactions

Drug-drug. Activated charcoal, cholestyramine, colestipol: decreased acetaminophen absorption

Barbiturates, carbamazepine, diflunisal, hydantoins, isoniazid, rifabutin, rifampin, sulfinpyrazone: increased risk of hepatotoxicity

Hormonal contraceptives: decreased acetaminophen efficacy

Oral anticoagulants: increased anticoagulant effect

Phenothiazines (such as chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, thioridazine): severe hypothermia

Zidovudine: increased risk of granulocytopenia

Drug-diagnostic tests. Home glucose measurement systems: altered results

Urine 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid: false-positive result

Drug-behaviors. Alcohol use: increased risk of hepatotoxicity

Patient monitoring

☞ Observe for acute toxicity and overdose. Signs and symptoms of acute toxicity are as follows - Phase 1: Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, malaise, diaphoresis. Phase 2: Right upper quadrant pain or tenderness, liver enlargement, elevated bilirubin and hepatic enzyme levels, prolonged prothrombin time, oliguria (occasional). Phase 3: Recurrent anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and malaise; jaundice; hypoglycemia; coagulopathy; encephalopathy; possible renal failure and cardiomyopathy. Phase 4: Either recovery or progression to fatal complete hepatic failure.

Patient teaching

• Caution parents or other caregivers not to give acetaminophen to children younger than age 2 without consulting prescriber first.
• Tell patient, parents, or other caregivers not to use drug concurrently with other acetaminophen-containing products.
• Advise patient, parents, or other caregivers to contact prescriber if fever or other symptoms persist despite taking recommended amount of drug.
• Inform patients with chronic alcoholism that drug may increase risk of severe liver damage.
• As appropriate, review all other significant and life-threatening adverse reactions and interactions, especially those related to the drugs, tests, and behaviors mentioned above.

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acetaminophen

Paracetamol–UK, Tylenol^® Pain medicine An OTC analgesic–headache, muscle, joint pain and antipyretic which lacks anti-inflammatory activity Therapeutic range 10-25 mg/L Critical value ≥ 300 mg/L Toxicity Overdose can cause fatal liver failure