Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Paracetamol: past, present, and future.

L F Prescott1

  • 1Emeritus Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.

American Journal of Therapeutics
|April 25, 2001
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Gastric emptying and drug absorption.

British journal of clinical pharmacology·2012
Same author

Henry Matthew: the father of modern clinical toxicology.

The journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh·2010
Same author

Paracetamol metabolism and excretion in paracetamol overdosage complicated by hepatic necrosis (T).

British journal of pharmacology·2008
Same author

Paracetamol disposition in renal allograft recipients.

European journal of clinical pharmacology·2002
Same author

Drugs for personal fulfillment in the elderly.

QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians·2001
Same author

Therapeutic misadventure with paracetamol: fact or fiction?

American journal of therapeutics·2001
Same journal

Deucravacitinib for Generalized Pustular Psoriasis and Comorbid Polymyositis: Dual Efficacy and Favorable Safety.

American journal of therapeutics·2026
Same journal

Repurposed Drugs and Cardiovascular Morbidity: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

American journal of therapeutics·2026
Same journal

Do Not Treat a Sequencing Report: Therapeutic Stewardship in Endometrial Microbiome Testing.

American journal of therapeutics·2026
Same journal

Right Side Accessory Pathway Mediated Cardiomyopathy Treated with Amiodarone: First Adult Case Report.

American journal of therapeutics·2026
Same journal

Dose-Dependent Escitalopram-Induced Anejaculation and Anorgasmia: Rapid Reversal After Discontinuation and Bupropion Therapy.

American journal of therapeutics·2026
Same journal

Critical Appraisal of "Continued versus Interrupted Oral Anticoagulation During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Meta-Analysis".

American journal of therapeutics·2026
See all related articles

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is a widely used pain reliever and fever reducer. While overdose can cause liver damage, it remains a safe and effective first-line treatment for many conditions, with potential future applications.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Clinical Medicine
  • Drug Safety

Background:

  • Paracetamol (acetaminophen) has been clinically used since 1893 and commercially available since the 1950s.
  • Initially recognized for its safety, concerns arose in 1966 regarding liver damage from overdose, treatable with N-acetylcysteine.
  • The 1980s saw paracetamol become a preferred pediatric analgesic due to aspirin's link to Reye's syndrome.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the established efficacy and safety profile of paracetamol (acetaminophen).
  • To highlight its current role as a first-line analgesic and antipyretic across diverse patient populations.
  • To explore potential future therapeutic applications of paracetamol.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of historical clinical use and safety data.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of paracetamol's role in pediatric analgesia post-Reye's syndrome discovery.
  • Examination of current clinical guidelines and contraindications for its use.

    • Main Results:

    • Paracetamol is a standard treatment for mild to moderate pain and fever in adults and children.
    • It demonstrates a favorable safety profile when used correctly, with rare serious adverse events.
    • Contraindications include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) sensitivity and gastrointestinal risks, where paracetamol is preferred.

    Conclusions:

    • Paracetamol remains a crucial first-line therapy for pain and fever management in various patient groups.
    • Its safety profile is well-established, with effective management for overdose toxicity.
    • Ongoing research into its mechanism may reveal broader therapeutic uses, including potential antioxidant and anti-atherosclerotic effects.