Student Nurses’ Community

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

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.