Articles: acetaminophen.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Effect of acetaminophen and fluvastatin on post-dose symptoms following infusion of zoledronic acid.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessed the efficacy of acetaminophen or fluvastatin in preventing post-dose symptoms (increases in body temperature or use of rescue medication) following a single infusion of the intravenous (IV) bisphosphonate zoledronic acid (ZOL). Acetaminophen, but not fluvastatin, significantly reduced the incidence and severity of post-dose symptoms. ⋯ Acetaminophen four times/day for 3 days significantly reduced the incidence and severity of post-dose symptoms following ZOL infusion.
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This study examines awareness of the potential risks associated with over-the-counter (OTC) use of paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) among Australian consumers to better understand patterns of usage of these products. ⋯ Increasing consumer awareness of the need to consider potential risks prior to taking OTC analgesics is a positive sign. However, this has not translated to an increase in appropriate use of OTC NSAIDs; since ibuprofen has become available outside the pharmacy setting in Australia fewer people are using NSAIDs appropriately according to the label. The quality use of medicines, in particular OTC NSAIDs, is becoming increasingly reliant on product labelling and the ability of consumers to understand and self-assess risk.
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Aug 2011
A dosing regimen for immediate N-acetylcysteine treatment for acute paracetamol overdose.
Current treatment of paracetamol (acetaminophen) poisoning involves initiating a 3-phase N-acetylcysteine (NAC) infusion after comparing a plasma concentration, taken ≥ 4 h post-overdose, to a nomogram. This may result in dosing errors, a delay in treatment, or possibly more adverse effects - due to the use of a high dose rate for the first infusion when treatment is initiated. ⋯ The novel dosing regimen allowed immediate treatment of a patient using a lower dosing rate. This greatly simplifies the current dosing regimen and may reduce NAC adverse effects while ensuring the same amount of NAC is delivered.
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Clin Toxicol (Phila) · Aug 2011
Acetaminophen psi parameter: a useful tool to quantify hepatotoxicity risk in acute acetaminophen overdose.
The risk of hepatotoxicity secondary to acute acetaminophen overdose is related to serum acetaminophen concentration and lag time from ingestion to N-acetylcysteine (NAC) therapy. Psi (Greek letter ψ) is a toxicokinetic parameter that takes the acetaminophen level at 4 h post-ingestion ([APAP](4 h)) and the time-to-initiation of NAC (tNAC) into account and was found to be significantly predictive of hepatotoxicity in Canadian patients with acetaminophen overdose treated with intravenous NAC. ⋯ The psi parameter is a reliable prognostic tool to predict hepatotoxicity secondary to acute acetaminophen overdose treated with intravenous NAC. Our evidence shows that psi may be a more superior tool than either acetaminophen level or time-to-initiation of NAC at predicting hepatotoxicity.
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Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf · Aug 2011
Comparative StudyCharacterization of acetaminophen overdose-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations in the United States.
To estimate the number of acetaminophen overdose-related emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations in the United States, characterize these by intentionality, age, and gender, and compare the strengths and limitations of the utilized databases. ⋯ Our results suggest that acetaminophen overdose, both intentional and unintentional, remains a significant public health concern. With an understanding of their methodological characteristics and limitations, these national databases can be useful tools to characterize acetaminophen overdose-related ED visits and hospitalizations.