Effect of the drug
Paracetamol has been considered a popular and sought after pain reliever and antipyretic for half a century. Efficiency is associated with uniform distribution across tissues.
The active ingredients block the action of prostaglandins, which are sources of pain. This eliminates moderate pain. The drug also copes well with fever. This serious symptom can indicate a variety of infectious and inflammatory diseases.
Before taking it, you should consult your doctor and read the instructions to prevent side effects. You should strictly follow the dosage, otherwise complications related to the functioning of the heart and kidneys may occur. The risk increases when taken concomitantly with alcoholic beverages.
Signs of poisoning do not appear immediately. Initially, your general well-being may only slightly deteriorate.
Use during pregnancy and breastfeeding
The test did not reveal any effects on the fetus, despite the fact that the medicine penetrates the placental barrier. Therefore, during pregnancy, if toothaches occur, doctors allow taking this drug in doses not exceeding the permissible ones. The same applies to mothers who breastfeed their babies; paracetamol, or rather, part of it ends up in the milk, but you can take the medicine if necessary.
In what cases is it effective?
The drug has an effect in various febrile conditions associated with elevated temperature. Particularly effective for colds.
Paracetamol is able to cope with pain of varying intensity. It is often used for headaches and toothaches. Helps women with pain during menstruation.
The drug is allowed to be taken by pregnant women and babies from 3 months. For children there are baby candles and syrup. The product is often given to babies who are starting to cut their teeth.
Indications for use of the drug
Paracetamol has several indications for use:
- the appearance of fever, body aches caused by colds
- pain of various types, but not those caused by inflammatory processes.
Doctors also recommend giving it as a prophylactic after the vaccine is administered.
Paracetamol for fever
Paracetamol can be used at a temperature if it has reached 38.5 degrees or higher. This is explained by the fact that elevated temperature has a negative effect on harmful microorganisms, and, therefore, allows you to recover faster.
It should be taken strictly according to the instructions, without exceeding the dosage. The tablet should be taken with a sufficient amount of drinking water, which will speed up the absorption of the active ingredient and minimize the negative impact on the liver.
Single dose 400-500 mg. If the temperature reaches 40 degrees, the dose can be doubled.
For children and adults, a single dose is determined based on weight. A child can take the drug 4 times per day. Duration of treatment – up to 3 days.
Is it possible to take paracetamol during pregnancy for headaches, toothaches and fever?
Fever can occur for several reasons, the most common of which are flu and colds.
As for the flu, paracetamol is approved for use throughout pregnancy as the safest remedy with an antipyretic effect. In addition to it, in rare cases, some NSAIDs can also be prescribed according to indications, namely drugs with the active substance ibuprofen or celecoxib, but they are prohibited from being taken in the third trimester.
It is also worth noting that many combination cold and flu remedies include paracetamol. Although they are available without a prescription, these medications are contraindicated for pregnant women.
Influenza, caused by virus A, can cause fever in pregnant women. According to the clinical protocol for the treatment of this disease, elevated temperature should be controlled, since it jeopardizes the health of the fetus. To combat fever, paracetamol is prescribed, as it is considered the safest.
It should be noted that painkillers and antipyretics are prescribed at body temperatures only above 38 degrees. Pregnant women are prescribed paracetamol for hyperthermia at any stage of pregnancy.
A well-known pediatrician in Ukraine, Evgeniy Komarovsky, recommends pregnant women to be vaccinated against influenza in advance. He claims that in his entire medical practice he has not met a single pregnant woman who experienced complications after such a vaccination. Dr. Komarovsky also advises taking paracetamol at elevated temperatures, and if the temperature persists, seeking emergency medical help.
First trimester
The medication is approved in the early stages of pregnancy. Most studies show that the likelihood of developing birth defects in the first trimester of pregnancy due to influenza and fever can be reduced by taking paracetamol. It should be taken 500-1000 mg per day, but not more than 4000 mg per day.
In a review for the UK's Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Dr Pat O'Brien , consultant obstetrician and spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, says:
“Women who are trying to become pregnant or who are already pregnant should always check the mixture of ingredients in cough and cold products to avoid accidental overdose of paracetamol and any medicines containing the substance. We strongly encourage women to speak to their GP or midwife before taking any medications, including those available over the counter."
Second trimester
Since there is no clear evidence that paracetamol has any negative effects on the unborn child in the second trimester, it is approved for use. However, the medication must be used in the minimum allowable dosage and for a short period of time. But before taking the medicine, you should consult your family doctor.
Dr Sarah Stock, Senior Clinical Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in Maternal and Child Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, states:
“Pregnant women have few options for pain relief or treatment of fever, so paracetamol can be used under the strict guidance of a specialist doctor.”
Third trimester
Paracetamol can be taken to treat fever and reduce temperature throughout pregnancy, including the third trimester. Of course, there are results of some studies that talk about possible side effects of the medication for the unborn baby, but the data is relatively small and there is no safer drug for fighting influenza in pregnant women than paracetamol.
Andrew Shennan , professor of obstetrics at King's College London, says:
“Paracetamol is commonly taken during pregnancy and is considered safe and is indeed recommended for the relief of high fevers and mild to moderate pain. The use of paracetamol is advisable in late pregnancy. When in doubt, women should consult their doctor as alternatives may cause unwanted effects in infants."
Paracetamol can be taken by pregnant women in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester to treat toothache, headache and lower fever. But before you start taking it, you should definitely consult with a specialized medical specialist.
But in some cases, paracetamol may not reduce the temperature. What can replace it? Read about the features of the drug and its alternatives in a new article .
What is better to choose when treating fever - paracetamol or ibuprofen ? Find out which drug is more effective and safe from the blog material.
Find out more about health at apteka24.ua .
This editorial material has been verified for accuracy by the family general practitioner of the Medical Plaza Medical Center - Galina Vasilievna Gubarenko .
Sources
Clinical protocol for the treatment of influenza and its complications in pregnant women / MedProsvita
Clinical recommendations. Flu in patients / Zdrav-nnov
Flu and Vaginism / MedCV.gov.ua
Influenza in pregnant and lactating women: relevant - about prevention, tactics and treatment / MedProsvita
Expert reaction to study looking at paracetamol in pregnancy and behavior, memory and IQ in children / SMC
Paracetamol / King Edward Memorial Hospital
Paracetamol / Drugs.com
Use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes / PubMeD
RCOG review clarifies pain relief options for women during pregnancy and breastfeeding / RCOG
Analgesics and pain relief in pregnancy and breastfeeding / NPS Medicinewice
Prenatal paracetamol use and asthma in childhood: A systematic review and meta-analysis / ScienceDirect
Headaches in pregnance / HSE.ie
Treating pain during pregnancy / NCBI
Increased risk of preeclampsia after use of paracetamol during pregnancy – causal or coincidence? /BMC
Association of maternal prenatal acetaminophen use with the risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in offspring: A meta-analysis / Sage Journals
Pregnancy/ADA
Cold and flu during pregnancy / pregnancybirth&baby
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How to take for headaches
The medicine is quite effective for headaches. But when taking it, it is worth considering some features. The tablets should not be taken on an empty stomach. Before taking the pill, you need to have at least something to eat. If there is no appetite, then you can drink a glass of water.
You need to take the tablet with plain water. It is not recommended to use coffee and tea, as the effect may be reduced to zero. If unbearable pain is felt, then you can take 1000 mg of the drug at a time. You can take the medicine again after at least 4 hours. You can take no more than 4 tablets per day. This regimen does not apply to pregnant women (the dosage should be 2 times less).
Paracetamol is prescribed for migraines, which are characterized by persistent, throbbing pain, usually in one part of the head.
If the headache is associated with stress or a nervous condition, then 1 tablet is enough.
Side effects
As a rule, each drug has certain side effects in case of overdose:
- on the part of the circulatory system, anemia, thrombocytopenia, etc. may appear.
- can also have an effect on the baby’s nervous system; he will become drowsy or, on the contrary, nervous overexcitability
- Possible pain in the abdomen
- sick, vomiting
With frequent and long-term use of paracetamol, it may have a toxic effect on the liver.
Paracetamol for colds
When a cold appears, you need to provide timely help. Otherwise, the condition may worsen. The first signs of the disease are excessive weakness and fatigue. During ARVI, a runny nose, cough, fever, muscle and joint pain appear.
Paracetamol will reduce the symptoms of the disease and improve the patient's condition.
Very often the drug is prescribed to adults and children over 12 years of age in tablet form. If the medicine is to be taken by children, then it is worth considering an important factor - the child must weigh more than 49 kg.
Babies up to one year old can be given the drug in the form of a suspension, after a year - in the form of syrup.
In many cases, adults take 1 tablet 4 times a day. Duration of treatment – no more than 3 days.
Release form and composition
Paracetamol for children is available in several forms, which makes it possible to use it from an early age, for example, when the first toothache appears:
- tablets, containing from 200 to 500 mg
- syrup is available in bottles of 100 ml, 5 ml, 120 mg of product
- suppositories for rectal use may contain from 0.8 to 1.7 mg of active ingredient
- powder form for dilution in water containing 120 mg paracetamol
Attention: depending on the age of the mother, they give preference to the form of the medicine. The rectal one is considered the safest for a young body, that is, I also use suppositories for toothache.
How to take for toothache
Often toothache catches a person at the most inopportune moment. Not in all cases it is possible to go to the dentist right away. To eliminate unbearable pain and improve the condition, you can take Paracetamol.
The drug is able to stop the production of prostaglandins, which are the source of pain. The tooth stops hurting, but the inflammatory process continues to spread. If the toothache does not go away, then you should not hesitate to go to the dentist.
You need to take the medicine after meals. Relief is observed after about 15-20 minutes. You can take the pill again no earlier than after 4 hours. You can take 4 tablets per day. Paracetamol can be taken for no more than 3 days.
special instructions
Before you start using a medicine for toothache, you should carefully study the instructions in order to avoid side effects. And follow some instructions recommended for use in children:
- give the remedy after meals no earlier than an hour has passed, since food will slow down absorption
- drink plenty of liquid (water)
If the age is under two years, then use the syrup in accordance with the established doses and after consultation with a doctor.
Features of use by pregnant women
Pregnant women often complain of toothache. Most often, the cause is caries, which appears due to the fact that calcium in a woman’s body is directed to a greater extent towards the structure of the bone tissue of the unborn baby. This causes various problems, particularly with teeth.
Paracetamol is allowed to be taken by pregnant women, but precautions should be taken. The active substance can penetrate the placenta. The minimum dose of the medicine can be taken in the 2nd trimester, when the child’s organs are already formed.
Before taking it, you should consult your doctor. You can drink no more than 1 tablet per day. Repeated use may cause harm to the fetus.
Paracetamol for teething in children instructions for use
When teething in children, the pain usually intensifies during sleep. Therefore, doctors recommend using the substance immediately before bed, but if he sleeps several times, then it is possible before each one. The dosage is calculated directly from the form of release in which the medicine will be offered, but at the rate of 10 mg of active substance per 1 kg of weight.
Attention: before using if you experience toothache, you should consult a doctor as the doctor can change the dosage as necessary.
