The drugs most bought in pharmacies are painkillers. And the point is not that there are a lot of them and they are sold without a prescription. Pain is a symptom of many diseases, and not everyone is able to endure it. Therefore, people seek to acquire such a drug so that it copes with this scourge quickly and effectively. One of the most popular painkillers is Acetaminophen. The instruction for use advises its use in pain syndrome of various etiologies or at elevated temperature. This drug is produced in America, but also quite popular in our country, as it quickly and effectively relieves any pain.
What is Acetaminophen?
The drug belongs to the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The main active ingredient of the drug is paracetamol. It acts on the centers of pain and thermoregulation in the brain. Because "Acetaminophen" is an effective antipyretic and analgesic. Already 15 minutes after taking the drug, its action begins. In addition to relieving pain and reducing heat, Acetaminophen has a slight anti-inflammatory effect.
Therefore, it is prescribed for intolerance to acetylsalicylic acid. Often, "Acetaminophen" is used as an adjuvant in the treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases. Its predecessor is the drug "Phenacetin", but it was more toxic and not so effective, therefore, it is now used only as part of some other drugs. Acetaminophen is made in an American pharmaceutical company, but is sold in pharmacies around the world. It is available in the form of tablets, capsules, syrup, effervescent powder for the preparation of a solution, suspension and even candles.
Indications for use of the drug
Like all medicines containing paracetamol, Acetaminophen can be used for fever, infectious and inflammatory diseases and colds. It does not cure, but helps to relieve symptoms and alleviate the patient's condition. However, various pains of moderate and medium intensity are what Acetaminophen is most often used against. Instructions for use recommend drinking it with the following symptoms:
- headache, migraine;
- toothache, condition after dental operations;
- with various myalgia, arthralgia and neuralgia, pain in the joints and muscles;
- pain after burns and injuries;
- with colds and flu;
- with algodismenorea.
Can everyone drink Acetaminophen?
Instructions for use do not recommend prescribing the drug in tablets and capsules for children under 12 years of age and with individual intolerance to paracetamol. In addition, it is contraindicated in the following diseases:
- liver failure;
- acute and chronic kidney diseases;
- with anemia and other blood diseases.
With caution and only under the supervision of a doctor, you can use "Acetaminophen" during pregnancy, especially in its second half, with diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, viral hepatitis and alcoholism.
Side effects after taking the medicine
Typically, the drug "Acetaminophen" is easily tolerated by patients. Side effects are mainly observed with an overdose. In this case, the patient may fall into a coma, he may have severe hepatic insufficiency, and even sometimes face death. With prolonged treatment, the development of anemia, renal failure and a decrease in the number of platelets in blood tests are possible. But most often there are such side effects:
- abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting;
- dizziness, disorientation, or agitation;
- renal colic;
- hypoglycemia;
- allergic reactions: rash, urticaria, pruritus, Quincke's edema or angioedema.
To avoid side effects, you must strictly observe the dosage of the medicine, take it only according to indications and drink plenty of water.
How to drink "Acetaminophen"?
In a pharmacy, this drug can be purchased without a prescription. But before taking it, you still need to consult a doctor so that he tells you how to drink Acetaminophen. Instructions for use note that it is better to do this a couple of hours after a meal, drinking tablets with plenty of water. A single dose should not exceed 1 g of the drug, that is, you can drink 1-2 tablets.
With severe pain and infectious and inflammatory diseases accompanied by fever, it is permissible to take the drug 4 times a day, but no more. Do not use "Acetaminophen" for treatment longer than a week. And if necessary, use it during pregnancy, kidney or liver failure, or the elderly, the dose should be halved, and the duration of treatment should not exceed 3-4 days. Sometimes Acetaminophen is prescribed for children. In this case, you need to use a special children's form of release in the form of a syrup or suspension and strictly follow the recommendations for the dosage of the medicine.
Special instructions for taking the medicine
- Because of the danger of toxic liver damage, it is necessary to exclude alcohol intake during treatment with the drug.
- You can not drink "Acetaminophen" simultaneously with other drugs containing acetylsalicylic acid or paracetamol.
- This medicine does not combine with glucocorticosteroids and anticoagulants.
- Barbiturates reduce the antipyretic effect of the drug, and Metoclopramide accelerates its absorption rate.
- If necessary, use "Acetaminophen" for several days in a row, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the liver and kidneys, as well as do blood tests.
- For the treatment of children after 3 months, only a special infant form of the drug is used in the form of a suspension or syrup. It is necessary to use the medicine strictly on the recommendation of a doctor and observe the dosage necessary for a given age of the child.
Why is “Acetaminophen” so popular?
The price of the drug in our pharmacies is quite high - a package of 50 tablets costs from seven hundred to a thousand rubles. But you can find a jar and cheaper, containing 30 or even 12 pieces.
Nevertheless, this medicine is quite popular, because it is easy to take, it acts quickly and effectively. Many patients out of all painkillers choose Acetaminophen. Reviews of its use note that the pain disappears after 10-15 minutes, the fever subsides and the symptoms of infectious and inflammatory diseases become less pronounced. In addition, it also matters that the drug is available in convenient packaging: a plastic jar holds from 30 to 100 tablets, which lasts a long time. A tightly screwed cap does not allow children to get to the tablets.
How can I replace the drug?
There are many drugs that contain the same active ingredient as Acetaminophen. Analogues of the drug based on paracetamol among doctors and patients of our country are better known. The “Paracetamol" in tablets itself is the cheapest. In addition, there is a children's "Paracetamol" in syrup, and tablets with the same name produced by various pharmaceutical companies.
There are other analogues of the drug "Acetaminophen":
- Tylenol.
- The Panadol.
- "Deminofen."
- "Kalpol."
- "Mexalen."
- "Perfalgan."
- Streamol.
- "Tsefekon".
- "Eferalgan."
All of them are effective against pain and heat and may very well replace Acetaminophen. There are also painkillers that contain other active substances in their composition. They are prescribed for those who have intolerance to paracetamol. But the question of the need to replace the drug is decided only by the attending physician. What painkillers can replace Acetaminophen? The price of most of them is much lower than his, and you can purchase them for 100-200 rubles. Most often bought:
- Pentalgin.
- Migrenol.
- Novalgin.
- Solpadein.
- "Spazmalgon."
- Next and others.
If there is a need to choose a medicine to alleviate the symptoms of influenza and to lower the temperature, instead of Acetaminophen, Antigrippin, Coldrex, Maxikold, Rinzu, Teraflu, Fervex and others are often prescribed. But you should not choose a medicine without the recommendation of a doctor.