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Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics: Paracetamol acts as an analgesic and antipyretic.
Pharmacokinetics: The mode of action of paracetamol is not known. It is thought to act as a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor in the central nervous system but not in the peripheral tissues. This would account for its antipyretic and analgesic effect and for the possible lack of anti-inflammatory action.
Paracetamol is readily absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract with peak plasma concentration about 30 minutes to 2 hours after ingestion. It is metabolized in the liver and excreted in the urine mainly as the glucuronide and sulphate conjugates. The elimination half-life varies from about 1 to 4 hours. Plasma protein binding is negligible at usual therapeutic concentrations.
