NAME OF DRUG MECHANISM OF DOSAGE INDICATION CONTRAINDICATION ADVERSE EFFECT NURSING
ACTION CONSIDERATION
Generic Name: Thought to produce Dosage: Mild pain or fever Drug can cause acute CNS: anxiety, fatigue, Many OTC and
acetaminophen analgesia by inhibiting 325 to 650mg PO liver failure, which headache, insomnia, prescription products
(APAP, paracetamol) prostaglandin and Adults: 325 to 650 mg may require a liver fever. contain
other substances that Route: PO every 4 to 6 hours. transplant or cause CV: HTN, acetaminophen; be
Brand Name: sensitize pain PO Or, two extended- death. Most cases of hypotension, aware of this when
ACET, Arthritis Pain receptors. Drugs may release caplets PO liver injury are peripheral edema, calculating total daily
Relief Children's relieve fever through Frequency: every 8 hours. associated with drug periorbital edema. dose.
Silapap, FeverAll, central action in the Q4-6 Maximum, 3,250 mg doses exceeding Gl: nausea, vom-iting,
Fortolin, Ofirmev, hypothalamic heat- daily unless under 4,000 mg/day and abdominal pain, Consider reducing
Pediatrix, Rapid regulating center. health care provider often involve more diarrhea. total daily dose and
Actions, Taminol, supervision, when 4 g than one Hematologic: increasing dosing
Triaminic Fever daily (immediate- acetaminophen- hemolytic anemia, intervals in patients
Reducer, Tylenol release) may be used. containing product. leukopenia, with hepatic or renal
For long-term neutropenia, impairment.
Therapeutic therapy, don't exceed Use cautiously in pancytopenia,
Classification: 2.6 g daily unless patients with long- anemia. Hepatic:
Analgesics prescribed and term alcohol use jaundice.
monitored closely by because therapeutic Metabolic: hypo-
Pharmacologic Class: health care provider. doses cause glycemia,
Para-aminophenol hepatotoxicity in hypokalemia,
derivatives these patients. hypervolemia, hypo-
Patients with chronic magnesemia
alcoholism shouldn't Mus-culoskeletal:
take more than 2 g of muscle spasms,
acetaminophen every Respiratory:
24 hours. abnormal breath
sounds, dyspnea,
hypoxia, atelectasis,
pleural effu-sion,
pulmonary edema,
stridor.
Skin: rash, urticaria,
pruritus.
