Intravenous Acetaminophen

• Published in: Anesthesiology clinics Vol. 28; no. 4; pp. 619 - 645
• Main Authors: Jahr, Jonathan S., MD, Lee, Vivian K., MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-12-2010
• Subjects: Acetaminophen - administration & dosage; Acetaminophen - pharmacokinetics; Acetaminophen - pharmacology; Acute pain; Adult; Analgesia; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic - administration & dosage; Anesthesia & Perioperative Care; Child; Clinical Trials as Topic; Fever; Fever - drug therapy; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Intravenous acetaminophen; Laparoscopy; Multimodal analgesia; Pain, Postoperative - drug therapy; Perioperative; Analgesia; Perioperative; Acute pain; Multimodal analgesia; Fever; Intravenous acetaminophen
• ISSN: 1932-2275; 2210-3538
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anclin.2010.08.006

Acetaminophen has unique analgesic and antipyretic properties. It is globally recommended as a first-line agent for the treatment of fever and pain due to its few contraindications. Acetaminophen lacks the significant gastrointestinal and cardiovascular side effects associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and narcotics. An intravenous formulation of acetaminophen is available in Europe and is currently undergoing extensive clinical development for use in the United States. This use may have important implications for management of postoperative pain and fever. This review summarizes recent clinical trial experiences with intravenous acetaminophen for the treatment of postoperative pain and fever in adult and pediatric subjects.