Abstract:
Acetaminophen is a commonly used antipyretic analgesic in clinical practice, but its excessive use can cause liver damage. The recommended dose of acetaminophen for Chinese patients is usually no more than 2 g·d
-1, which is only half of the maximum dose recommended in the US and Japanese version of package insert. We analyzed the ethnic sensitivity factors of acetaminophen and found that the drug exposure of acetaminophen in East Asians was generally higher than that in Caucasians, but the risk of liver damage in East Asians was very low at the maximum dose of 4 g · d
-1. The dose regimen of 1 000 mg q6h or 650 mg q4h can significantly relieve pain and improve clinical endpoints of analgesia. We propose that it is necessary to conduct clinical trials to explore the efficacy and safety of 4 g·d
-1 in Chinese population.