Acetaminophen

DescriptionAcetaminophen differs from the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents described in that it is devoid of anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic properties. It was recently shown that acetaminophen, like aspirin, inhibits cyclooxygenase action in the brain and is even stronger than aspirin. On the other hand, the mechanism of analgesic action of acetaminophen is not fully clear, since it acts poorly on peripheral cyclooxygenase.

DescriptionAcetaminophen is an analgesic and antipyretic compound. Unlike many NSAIDs, which inhibit both COX-1 and COX-2, early studies suggested that acetaminophen is a poor inhibitor of both isoforms. However, it does inhibit COX-2 by 83% and COX-1 by 56% in human blood ex vivo, albeit at a high 1,000 mg dose, with IC50 values of 25.8 and 113.7 μM, respectively. Acetaminophen is enzymatically and non-enzymatically converted to several reactive metabolites that contribute to adverse or indirect effects, including liver injury. At toxic doses, the acetaminophen metabolite N-acetyl-4-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI; ) depletes glutathione reserves in the liver, leading to an accumulation of NAPQI and subsequent hepatocyte necrosis. Acetaminophen decreases glutathione levels and reduces glutathione peroxidase activity in mice when administered at a dose of 250 mg/kg and induces ferroptotic cell death in primary mouse hepatocytes, an effect that can be blocked by the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 . Acetaminophen has analgesic and antipyretic properties in animal models.

HistoryAcetaminophen was first discovered by H. N. Morse in 1878. Although many studies on its use as an analgesic were performed, it wasn’t until 1950 that it was marketed under the name Triagesic. Today, its most common trade names are Tylenol and Panadol, but a large percentage of its sales are as a generic drug. It is the most commonly used medication for pain and fever in both the United States and Europe. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.

UsesAnalgesic; antipyretic

Usesantiinfectant

Usesdispersing agent in liquid scintillation counting

Usesmanufacture of azo dyes, photographic chemicals.

UsesAcetaminophen is widely used as an analgesic and fever-reducing agent. Acetaminophen is designed for moderate analgesia. It is also effective like aspirin and is used in analgesia for headaches (from weak to moderate pain), myalgia, arthralgia, chronic pain, for oncological and post-operational pain, etc.

General DescriptionOdorless white crystalline solid. Bitter taste. pH (saturated aqueous solution) about 6.

DefinitionChEBI: Paracetamol is a member of the class of phenols that is 4-aminophenol in which one of the hydrogens attached to the amino group has been replaced by an acetyl group. It has a role as a cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitor, a cyclooxygenase 1 inhibitor, a non-narcotic analgesic, an antipyretic, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, a cyclooxygenase 3 inhibitor, a xenobiotic, an environmental contaminant, a human blood serum metabolite, a hepatotoxic agent, a ferroptosis inducer and a geroprotector. It is a member of phenols and a member of acetamides. It is functionally related to a 4-aminophenol.