Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen (pronounced: uh-see-tuh-MIN-uh-fen), also known as paracetamol in many countries, is a common over-the-counter medication used to relieve pain and reduce fever.
Etymology
The word "acetaminophen" is derived from the chemical name for the compound: N-acetyl-para-aminophenol. The "acet-" prefix refers to the acetyl group (CH3CO-), "-amin-" refers to the amino group (-NH2), and "-phen" refers to the phenol group (-OH).
Usage
Acetaminophen is used to treat many conditions such as headache, muscle aches, arthritis, backache, toothaches, colds, and fevers. It works by reducing the production of prostaglandins, chemicals in the body that cause pain and inflammation.
Side Effects
While generally safe for use at recommended doses, excessive use of acetaminophen can lead to serious liver damage. Other potential side effects include allergic reactions, skin reactions, and anemia.
Related Terms
- Analgesic: A type of medication used to relieve pain.
- Antipyretic: A type of medication used to reduce fever.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID): A class of drugs that includes acetaminophen.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Acetaminophen
- Wikipedia's article - Acetaminophen
This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski