DrugXpert Blog

From my industrial training (IT) days down to internship, there is one practice that resonates with drug prescribers. They always give antimalaria with paracetamol or painkillers. The paracetamol is to be taken based on body weight every 6 or 8 hours for three days. This practice is done by medical doctors and pharmacists both young and old. What is the rationale behind this practice? Rationale Of Co-administration Of Paracetamol With Antimalarial I did a small questionnaire and pulled answers from some medical doctors and pharmacists within Nigeria. My findings showed that it was more of personal reason and not based on research and evidence based treatment plan. Read Also :  Pharmacotherapy/Treatment Of Malaria To some, the paracetamol is to reduce the fever during treatment. To others, paracetamol reduces the side effects of antimalaria. World Health Organization Recommendation Co-administration Of Paracetamol With Antimalarial A look at the world health organisation standard sh...

Paracetamol Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is classified as a drug that reduces pain and fever. Although, it is not included as a non-steroidal and steroidal antiinflammatory agent. Let us see why paracetamol is not in the league with the others. Read Also : Management of ulcer There are different classes of pain medication. They all have different mechanisms of action. But paracetamol, non-steroidal anti inflammatory (NSAID) and steroidal antiinflammatory agent are the most commonly prescribed for all types of pains. NSAID and steroidal antiinflammatory agents have similar mechanisms of action. The only difference is that steroidal agents have a broad range of other effects in addition to the effects of NSAID. That is why they are under controlled drugs. NSAIDs are drug classes that reduce pain, decrease fever, prevent blood clot and in higher doses decrease inflammation. They inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme I and II. Some NSAID inhibit just COX II. Read Also : Treating body pain whe...