Acetaminophen & Ibuprofen Drug Cards PDF

**Acetaminophen (Tylenol)** - **Class**: Analgesic, Antipyretic - **Mechanism of Action**: Inhibits prostaglandin synthesis in the CNS, leading to analgesic and antipyretic effects. It has minimal anti-inflammatory effects. - **Indications**: - Pain (mild to moderate) -...

**Acetaminophen (Tylenol)** - **Class**: Analgesic, Antipyretic - **Mechanism of Action**: Inhibits prostaglandin synthesis in the CNS, leading to analgesic and antipyretic effects. It has minimal anti-inflammatory effects. - **Indications**: - Pain (mild to moderate) - Fever - Osteoarthritis - **Dosage**: - **Adults**: 325-650 mg every 4-6 hours or 1,000 mg 3-4 times/day ([max 4,000 mg/day]) - **Pediatrics**: 10-15 mg/kg every 4-6 hours (max 75 mg/kg/day) - **Routes**: Oral (tablet, capsule, liquid), Rectal, IV - **Onset**: 30 minutes to 1 hour (oral) - **Peak**: 1-3 hours - **Duration**: 4-6 hours - **Side Effects**: - Nausea - Rash - Liver toxicity (with overdose) - **Contraindications**: - Severe hepatic impairment or active liver disease - **Nursing Considerations**: - Monitor liver function (ALT, AST) - Educate patients about avoiding alcohol use to prevent hepatotoxicity - Use caution in patients with hepatic disease - **Patient Education**: - Do not exceed the recommended dose to avoid liver damage. - It's important to check labels to avoid accidentally taking too much acetaminophen from multiple medications, as it can lead to liver toxicity. Many medications have acetaminophen included. (e.g., OTC: Excedrin, NyQuil, DayQuil, Theraflu, Robitussin, Midol Complete, Alka-Seltzer. Rx: Percocet, Norco, Vicoden, Ultracet, Fioricet) - Avoid alcohol use - Take with or without food **Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)** - **Class**: Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID) - **Mechanism of Action**: Inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2), reducing prostaglandin synthesis, leading to decreased inflammation, pain, and fever. - **Indications**: - Pain (mild to moderate) - Fever - Inflammatory disorders (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis) - **Dosage**: - **Adults**: 200-400 mg every 4-6 hours ([max 3,200 mg/day]) - **Pediatrics**: 5-10 mg/kg every 6-8 hours (max 40 mg/kg/day) - **Routes**: Oral (tablet, capsule, suspension), IV - **Onset**: 30 minutes (oral) - **Peak**: 1-2 hours - **Duration**: 4-6 hours - **Side Effects**: - Gastrointestinal upset (nausea, dyspepsia, bleeding) - Increased risk of cardiovascular events (e.g., heart attack, stroke) - Kidney impairment - **Contraindications**: - History of gastrointestinal bleeding or ulcers - Severe renal impairment - Use with caution in patients with cardiovascular disease - **Nursing Considerations**: - Monitor for signs of GI bleeding (e.g., black/tarry stools) - Assess renal function (BUN, creatinine) - Administer with food to minimize GI upset - **Patient Education**: - Take with food or milk to reduce stomach upset - Do not take more than the recommended dose - Notify the provider if you experience signs of GI bleeding or unusual bruising