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Alchin J, Dhar A, Siddiqui K, Christo PJ. Why paracetamol (acetaminophen) is a suitable first choice for treating mild to moderate acute pain in adults with liver, kidney or cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disorders, asthma, or who are older. Curr Med Res Opin 2022; 38:811-825. [PMID: 35253560 DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2022.2049551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Acute pain is among the most common reasons that people consult primary care physicians, who must weigh benefits versus risks of analgesics use for each patient. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is a first-choice analgesic for many adults with mild to moderate acute pain, is generally well tolerated at recommended doses (≤4 g/day) in healthy adults and may be preferable to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are associated with undesirable gastrointestinal, renal, and cardiovascular effects. Although paracetamol is widely used, many patients and physicians still have questions about its suitability and dosing, especially for older people or adults with underlying comorbidities, for whom there are limited clinical data or evidence-based guidelines. Inappropriate use may increase the risks of both overdosing and inadequate analgesia. To address knowledge deficits and augment existing guidance in salient areas of uncertainty, we have researched, reviewed, and collated published evidence and expert opinion relevant to the acute use of paracetamol by adults with liver, kidney, or cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, asthma, or/and who are older. A concern is hepatotoxicity, but this is rare among adults who use paracetamol as directed, including people with cirrhotic liver disease. Putative epidemiologic associations of paracetamol use with kidney or cardiovascular disease, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorders, and asthma largely reflect confounding biases and are of doubtful relevance to short-term use (<14 days). Paracetamol is a suitable first-line analgesic for mild to moderate acute pain in many adults with liver, kidney or cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disorders, asthma, and/or who are older. No evidence supports routine dose reduction for older people. Rather, dosing for adults who are older and/or have decompensated cirrhosis, advanced kidney failure, or analgesic-induced asthma that is known to be cross-sensitive to paracetamol, should be individualized in consultation with their physician, who may recommend a lower effective dose appropriate to the circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Alchin
- Pain Management Centre, Burwood Hospital, Burwood, New Zealand
| | - Arti Dhar
- GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Pte. Ltd, Singapore
| | | | - Paul J Christo
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Division of Pain Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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McGill MR, James LP, McCullough SS, Moran JH, Mathews SE, Peterson EC, Fleming DP, Tripod ME, Vazquez JH, Kennon-McGill S, Spencer HJ, Dranoff JA. Short-Term Safety of Repeated Acetaminophen Use in Patients With Compensated Cirrhosis. Hepatol Commun 2021; 6:361-373. [PMID: 34558847 PMCID: PMC8793989 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Current guidelines recommend restricting acetaminophen (APAP) use in patients with cirrhosis, but evidence to support that recommendation is lacking. Prior studies focused on pharmacokinetics (PK) of APAP in cirrhosis but did not rigorously examine clinical outcomes, sensitive biomarkers of liver damage, or serum APAP‐protein adducts, which are a specific marker of toxic bioactivation. Hence, the goal of this pilot study was to test the effects of regularly scheduled APAP dosing in a well‐defined compensated cirrhosis group compared to control subjects without cirrhosis, using the abovementioned outcomes. After a 2‐week washout, 12 subjects with and 12 subjects without cirrhosis received 650 mg APAP twice per day (1.3 g/day) for 4 days, followed by 650 mg on the morning of day 5. Patients were assessed in‐person at study initiation (day 1) and on days 3 and 5. APAP‐protein adducts and both conventional (alanine aminotransferase) and sensitive (glutamate dehydrogenase [GLDH], full‐length keratin 18 [K18], and total high‐mobility group box 1 protein) biomarkers of liver injury were measured in serum on the mornings of days 1, 3, and 5, with detailed PK analysis of APAP, metabolites, and APAP‐protein adducts throughout day 5. No subject experienced adverse clinical outcomes. GLDH and K18 were significantly different at baseline but did not change in either group during APAP administration. In contrast, clearance of APAP‐protein adducts was dramatically delayed in the cirrhosis group. Minor differences for other APAP metabolites were also detected. Conclusion: Short‐term administration of low‐dose APAP (650 mg twice per day, <1 week) is likely safe in patients with compensated cirrhosis. These data provide a foundation for future studies to test higher doses, longer treatment, and subjects who are decompensated, especially in light of the remarkably delayed adduct clearance in subjects with cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell R McGill
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Laura P James
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.,Translational Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Sandra S McCullough
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Jeffery H Moran
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.,PinPoint Testing, LLC, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | | | - Eric C Peterson
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Davis P Fleming
- Translational Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Morgan E Tripod
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Joel H Vazquez
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Stefanie Kennon-McGill
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Horace J Spencer
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Jonathan A Dranoff
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
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Curseen KA, Taj J, Grant Q. Pain Management in Patients with Serious Illness. Med Clin North Am 2020; 104:415-438. [PMID: 32312407 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcna.2020.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Managing pain in patients with serious illness can be complex. However, pain is often a prominent symptom in patients with malignant and nonmalignant serious illness and providers have to be adept at balancing effective pain management and safety. Clinicians should start with a standard pain assessment that lays important groundwork for developing a tailored multimodal approach to pain management. It is important to identify physical causes of pain and also existential causes. Opioids are not always appropriate but are still an important tool for managing pain. Basic opioid management and safe practices are essential when managing this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly Angelia Curseen
- Internal Medicine, Division of Palliative Medicine, Family and Preventive Medicine Emory School of Medicine, Emory Palliative Care Center, 1821 Clifton Road, Northeast, Suite 1017, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
| | - Jabeen Taj
- Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Cardiac Palliative Care, Medicine, Division of Palliative Medicine, Family and Preventive Medicine Emory School of Medicine, Emory University Hospital, 1821 Clifton Road, Northeast, Suite 1017, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Quintesia Grant
- Palliative and Supportive Care, Grady Memorial Hospital, Harbor Grace Hospice, Atlanta, GA, USA; Medicine, Division of Palliative Medicine, Family and Preventive Medicine Emory School of Medicine, 1821 Clifton Road, Northeast, Suite 1017, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
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