Acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol, or more commonly by its trade name of Tylenol, is a medication used to treat pain and reduce fever. After watching this video, you'll never forget the clinical uses and side effects of acetaminophen. It's super hot here in Italy, so it's a good thing we packed this mini-fan with us for traveling.
I want you to notice that this mini-fan is made of cedar, you know, since wooden goods made out of cedar are getting pretty popular these days. Anyway, The cedar mini fan also happens to be our symbol for the drug acetaminophen. Since a cedar mini fan sounds like a cedar minifin, right?
Acetaminophen is known abroad as paracetamol and colloquially by its trade name Tylenol. But remember the NCLEX will only test you on generic names, not brand names. So just remember acetaminophen and you should be good. Next, let's touch on how this drug is used.
The woman was fanning herself so vigorously that the cedar wood gave her a splinter on her finger. Ouch! Not only was this woman prepared with a minifan, but she is also carrying around a first aid kit that has band-aids for situations like this. The splinter, along with the band-aids, should help you remember that acetaminophen is used to treat pain. Because a splinter is painful, and you put band-aids over painful things like splinters, right?
Acetaminophen has analgesic or painkiller effects and is a great option for minor pain control, especially in people who can't take NSAIDs or opioid drugs. But you probably already know that Tylenol can help treat pain. Let's just move on. Next, take a look at the thermometer in the woman's mouth. Sure enough, she has a really high body temperature.
I mean, why else would she be fanning herself? This high temperature on this thermometer should help you remember that acetaminophen can be used to treat fever. Acetaminophen is often used for its antipyretic or fever-reducing properties.
Again, this is probably a fact you already know. Let's move on to discuss this drug's side effects. The woman pulled this lever to open up this first aid kit in order to take out the thermometer and the Band-Aids. Take a closer look at the lever and you'll notice that it's shaped like a liver. Yup, that's the liver-shaped lever, a recurring symbol for hepatotoxicity.
Yup, this liver-shaped lever is here to symbolize the liver damage that can occur as a side effect of acetaminophen use. In fact, this is a black box warning of acetaminophen, so you know it's important. You should be particularly concerned with liver function if the patient has taken a large amount of acetaminophen over a short period of time, such as an overdose of the medication. So, just how much acetaminophen is considered safe?
Well, based on her current condition, it's probably best if the woman cuts her sightseeing short and gets some rest. She's pulling out her phone to call a taxi, which she shouldn't have any trouble doing seeing that she has 4G service. This 4G service should help you remember that you should not exceed 4 grams or 4G of acetaminophen per day.
Get it? 4G service for 4 grams? When calculating the total acetaminophen amount that can be safely administered in a 24-hour or one day period, be sure to include all medications that contain acetaminophen, including cold medications like Dayquil and combination drugs with narcotics like Percocet. The total sum in grams of acetaminophen administered should be less than 4 grams to avoid the risk of liver injury.
This is an important concept that comes up all the time, both on the NCLEX and in clinical practice, so just remember 4G for 4 grams and you'll be all set. I guess the woman will have to leave the sightseeing of the Sistine Chapel for another day. By the way, the cysteine chapel here should help you remember that the antidote to acetaminophen is acetylcysteine.
Cysteine chapel for acetylcysteine, you read me? When an overdose of acetaminophen occurs, acetylcysteine can be administered to protect the liver and minimize the amount of hepatotoxicity. Alright, that's all for this mnemonic on acetaminophen. Let's recap.
Acetaminophen, commonly known by its trade name Tylenol, is a medication used to treat pain and reduce fever. Its most important side effect is hepatotoxicity, which can be prevented by limiting the dose of acetaminophen given to under 4 grams per day. In the case of an overdose, acetylcysteine can be given as an antidote to minimize liver damage. And now we're all done with acetaminophen. See you next time!
For more resources on this topic, including fact lists and interactive review images, click the image next to the More Here arrow. I'll see you next time.