Indications for acetaminophen include which of the following?

Indications for acetaminophen include which of the following?

• A. Severe inflammatory pain
• B. Mild pain and fevers
• C. Chronic arthritis
• D. Nausea and vomiting

Answer: (B)

Acetaminophen is used mainly to relieve mild to moderate pain and to reduce fever. It has little to no anti-inflammatory effect, so it isn’t effective for inflammatory or chronic inflammatory pain such as severe inflammatory pain or arthritis. Nausea and vomiting aren’t treated by acetaminophen, so those symptoms aren’t an indication for its use. In practice, this means acetaminophen is chosen for mild pain and fever, not for inflammatory conditions or GI symptoms like nausea. Remember to monitor dosing, since excessive amounts can harm the liver.

Acetaminophen is used mainly to relieve mild to moderate pain and to reduce fever. It has little to no anti-inflammatory effect, so it isn’t effective for inflammatory or chronic inflammatory pain such as severe inflammatory pain or arthritis. Nausea and vomiting aren’t treated by acetaminophen, so those symptoms aren’t an indication for its use. In practice, this means acetaminophen is chosen for mild pain and fever, not for inflammatory conditions or GI symptoms like nausea. Remember to monitor dosing, since excessive amounts can harm the liver.