Sign Out
Pharmacology: Paracetamol produces analgesia and antipyresis by a mechanism similar to that of salicylates. There is some evidence that Paracetamol has weak anti-inflammatory activity in some nonrheumatoid conditions (e.g., in patients who have had oral surgery). Paracetamol lowers body temperature in patients with fever but rarely lowers normal body temperature. The drug acts on the hypothalamus to produce antipyresis; heat dissipation is increased as a result of vasodilatation and increased peripheral blood flow.
Paracetamol is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract with peak plasma concentrations occurring about 10 to 60 minutes after oral doses.
Paracetamol is distributed in most body tissues. It crosses the placenta and is present in breast milk.
Plasma protein binding is negligible at usual therapeutic concentrations but increases with increasing concentrations.
The elimination half-life of Paracetamol varies from about 1 to 3 hours.
Paracetamol is metabolised predominantly in the liver and excreted in the urine mainly as the glucuronide and sulfate conjugates. Less than 5% is excreted as unchanged Paracetamol.
