Download – Paracetamol – A Review of Three Routes of Administration

The disproportionate cost, slow onset time and wide variation in bioavailability make rectal paracetamol less attractive in the presence of the intravenous formulation. Given the similar cost, intravenous paracetamol should be considered as a more effective alternative to suppositories, when oral dosing is not possible. It may also have a role to play when prompt analgesia is required and oral administration is not appropriate. Oral paracetamol is a simple well-tolerated analgesic; however a more generous loading dose is needed if meaningful early plasma concentrations are to be achieved. Intravenous paracetamol provides a method of achieving rapid therapeutic concentrations of paracetamol that can subsequently be maintained by oral absorption.

Chris Oscier,* Nicki Bosley, Quentin Milner
*Correspondence Email: chrisocier@hotmail.com