There are drugs that are used as a medicine from a home medicine cabinet. They are effective in the treatment of certain diseases, sold in pharmacies without a prescription. One such drug is paracetamol. It has been used as an analgesic and antipyretic for decades.
Medicine Helper
Pain is a sign of certain problems experienced by the body. In most cases, people take painkillers to relieve this unpleasant symptom. They believe that the cause of the pain is minor and does not require immediate medical attention.
Paracetamol is a pain reliever used at home, often without a prescription. However, this medicine has a fairly long history of use in the treatment of a wide range of diseases or conditions.
What are the dosage forms of the drug?
Paracetamol as an analgesic and antipyretic is used in the treatment of diseasesadults and children. This allows you to do both the properties of the drug itself and its release form: tablets, rectal suppositories, syrup, suspension.
Paracetamol acts as a pain reliever to relieve the symptoms of many diseases. Adults in most cases prefer to take pills. This dosage form contains 500 mg of the active ingredient - paracetamol, as well as excipients that play a formative role. Capsules containing 325 mg of paracetamol are also available for adults.
Rectal suppositories are used in pediatrics or in the treatment of patients unable to take the drug orally. Suppositories are different in size - 0.08, 0.17 or 0.33 g. They are selected according to the age of the child, as they differ not only in size, but also in the amount of the active ingredient, the content of which can be from 50 to 500 mg in one unit.
For children, pharmaceutical companies produce paracetamol in the form of syrup or suspension. These drugs have not only a liquid texture, but also a pleasant fruity taste and aroma. 5 ml of both syrup and suspension contain 120 mg of the active substance.
What works in medicine?
Almost all adults know that the drug "Paracetamol" anesthetizes headaches, toothaches, pain during colds, and also lowers the temperature. What works in medicines united by one name? The medicinal substance paracetamol belongs to the pharmacological group of anilides - organiccompounds based on aromatic amines. The substance in question itself is a crystalline powder that cannot be dissolved in water, but can be dissolved in alcohol. Its natural color is white, it may have a slight shade of yellow or pink, which is clearly visible on the tablet form.
How does the active component work?
Pharmacists in pharmacies often hear the question: "Can I drink paracetamol as a pain reliever?" The answer is undoubtedly yes, but the cause of the pain should be established by a specialist and only then recommend certain drugs.
The substance in question, when it enters the human body, works as an analgesic and antipyretic, affecting the production of prostaglandins - suppressing it, and also reduces the excitability of the hypothalamic thermoregulation center. Prostaglandins are physiologically active substances produced in the human body that sensitize nociceptive receptors to pain mediators - histamine and bradykinin. Paracetamol also inhibits the production of prostaglandins, and therefore reduces the pain threshold. Also, this medicinal substance affects the hypothalamus, one of the functions of which is the thermoregulation of the body. Paracetamol reduces the activity of the center that performs this important function, as a result of which the body temperature drops.
The main area of work of paracetamol is the central nervous system, which includes centers of pain and thermoregulation.
The pathway of drugs in the human body
Howtake paracetamol as an analgesic or antipyretic, says the instructions for use, enclosed by the manufacturer in the package of the drug. But the pharmacokinetics in any case will be the same. Once in the gastrointestinal tract, paracetamol is actively absorbed into the systemic circulation, reaching a maximum concentration after 0.5-2 hours. It binds to plasma proteins by 15%. The plasma half-life is about 2-4 hours. Paracetamol metabolism processes take place mainly in the liver, where almost 80% of the active substance reacts with glucuronic acid and sulfates, forming inactive metabolites - paracetamol glucuronide and sulfate.
17% of paracetamol undergoes hydroxylation, forming 8 active metabolites, which, in turn, conjugate with glutathione and form inactive metabolites. If there is not enough glutathione for metabolic processes, then these metabolites can block the enzyme systems of hepatocytes, which will cause their necrosis.
The CYP2E1 isoenzyme is also involved in the metabolism of the active substance. paracetamol metabolites are excreted mainly by the kidneys.
When is the drug used?
Paracetamol as an analgesic medicine is used in many cases if the pain experienced is of mild or moderate intensity. Most often, as a medicine from a home pharmacy, drugs with this component are taken for toothache, headache, algomenorrhea, myalgia, neuralgia, pain inback, migraine. For colds and fever, these drugs are the most popular.
Paracetamol is also used as an anesthetic for pain in the joints, although its effectiveness in these cases has been little proven. As an anti-inflammatory drug, this drug is used only in the complex therapy of the disease, having a slight effect on microorganisms.
The drug is dispensed from the pharmacy network without a doctor's prescription, but it is strictly forbidden to take it for other purposes, without following the recommendations of the drug manufacturer.
How is the drug used?
Pharmaceutical forms of drugs under the studied name allow them to be used in the treatment of people of different ages and he alth conditions. So, many parents of babies are wondering: "Is it possible to use Paracetamol as an anesthetic and antipyretic?" The answer was given by drug manufacturers. After all, even for babies, starting from 3 months, rectal suppositories with this active ingredient are produced.
The dosage of this dosage form depends on the age and body weight of a small patient. So, the smallest form of the drug in 0.08 g is used in the treatment of babies from 3 to 12 months. Suppositories weighing 0.17 g are prescribed for children from 1 year to 6 years. For children from the age of 7 to 12 years, suppositories of 0.33 g are recommended. For older patients, doctors prescribe suppositories in an adult dosage containing 500 mg of the active ingredient. Rectal suppositories are placedpatient after a bowel movement. They are not recommended to be used more than 4 times in one day.
Syrup and suspension "Paracetamol" are used in pediatrics for children from 1 month of age. The smallest patients, and also if the child suffers from food allergies, it is better to use the suspension, since it contains less sugar than syrup. Both forms of the drug are dosed in the same way:
- from 3 (on the recommendation of a specialist from 1 month) to 1 year, the baby is given 0.5-1 teaspoon of the drug;
- from 1 to 6 years old child takes 1-2 teaspoons of medicine;
- from 6 to 12 years of age, a single dose will be 2-4 teaspoons of the drug.
Both the suspension and the syrup should be given to the child no more than 4 times in one day, trying to ensure that the interval between taking the drug is at least 4 hours. The specialist will help to recalculate the dosage of the drug in accordance with the body weight of the child, because manufacturers are advised not to exceed the norm of 60 mg of the active ingredient per 1 kilogram of the patient's body weight for 1 day. It is best to give the child a syrup or suspension 2-3 hours after eating, then the active ingredient works more efficiently and faster.
The usual tablet form of paracetamol for adult patients contains 500 mg of the active ingredient, although in pharmacies you can buy medicine in a dosage of 250 or 120 mg for children. Tablets are taken in 1 or 2 pieces per dose, not exceeding the dose of 4 grams of the active substance per day for an adult patient. The tablet can be crushed intopowder or divide in half according to the risk.
It should be remembered that paracetamol is a one-time drug, you should not take it as a course. Pain is a sign of certain he alth problems, it requires a visit to a doctor and adequate diagnosis, because taking painkillers for a long time, you can miss the opportunity for quality therapy and getting rid of the disease.
Application features
Paracetamol as an anesthetic medicine has been deservedly popular for more than a dozen years. It is considered harmless enough, but in fact, you should not take this drug without consulting a specialist. The drug in some cases is recommended for use in children from 3 months, although it can rarely be prescribed to a one-month-old baby. There are no restrictions for use by pregnant and lactating women once and at recommended doses, although the substance penetrates the blood-brain barrier. Taking paracetamol should not be combined with taking alcoholic beverages, as this dramatically increases its hepatotoxic effect.
Are there any contraindications?
Paracetamol as a pain reliever for joint pain, headache or menstrual pain is used very often, because he considers the medicine of the first-aid kit. But the use of the drug should be recommended by a doctor. After all, like all other drugs, paracetamol has its own contraindications for use:
- alcoholism;
- expressed anemia;
- hypersensitivity toany components of a particular dosage form;
- congenital hyperbilirubinemia;
- deficiency of the G6PD enzyme involved in cell function;
- blood diseases;
- kidney disease, progressive;
- GI bleeding;
- leucopenia;
- pathology of the liver and kidneys in severe forms;
- combination of bronchial asthma, recurrent nasal and paranasal polyposis and intolerance to acetylsalicylic acid or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- erosive and ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract and duodenum.
The drug should not be taken by those who have recently undergone coronary artery bypass surgery. Also, it should not be taken by people with confirmed hyperkalemia. Paracetamol is not prescribed for newborns under 1 month of age.
Expert opinion about the drug
The drug "Paracetamol" as an analgesic and antipyretic has been used in medical practice for several decades. And this speaks for itself - experts consider it effective in solving the problem of pain of mild and moderate intensity, as well as lowering body temperature in certain diseases.
Doctors recommend taking the drug only in the indicated dosage, without violating the duration of use and taking into account the existing contraindications for each patient. The hepatotoxic effect of paracetamol makes it necessary to take into account the patient's history, the presence of liver diseases andkidneys, and also forces you to stop drinking alcohol while taking paracetamol.
Specialists prescribe this drug in a specific dosage form for each age group, because the pharmaceutical industry produces several dosage forms that take into account the characteristics of the organism or the he alth status of many patients.
Patient testimonials
Many buyers in pharmacies ask if Paracetamol can be taken as an anesthetic in certain situations, and reviews from ordinary people indicate that this drug is effective enough to relieve toothache, muscle pain, headache pain or menstrual discomfort. According to many patients, paracetamol is a good remedy for eliminating cold fever in children and adults. Many note a wide choice of dosage forms of drugs under the name under study, in order to take into account the age characteristics of the patient. In addition, the drug is sold in pharmacies without a prescription from a doctor, and its price makes the drug affordable for all segments of the population.
How to buy and store medicine?
One of the popular medicines in the home first aid kit is paracetamol. Pain reliever helps to cope with many types of pain. You can buy it at any pharmacy on demand, without showing the pharmacist a prescription from a doctor. The drug is available at its cost. So, 20 tablets of 500 mg cost less than 20 rubles. Suspension or syrup can be purchased at a price of 65 rubles per 1 bottle, andrectal suppositories are sold at 40-50 rubles per pack of 10 pieces. Store drugs at room temperature away from sunlight.
Paracetamol has been used as an anesthetic for many years. It effectively eliminates pain, lowers body temperature. But it should be remembered that these are only symptoms of the disease, which the drug eliminates. Paracetamol does not cure the disease itself. This means that the symptoms will recur and intensify if you do not seek qualified medical help. This is dangerous to he alth.
