Paracetamol: Effects in human life as a silent killer

Paracetamol/acetaminophen is one of the most popular and most commonly used analgesic and antipyretic drugs around the world available without a prescription, both in mono and multi – component preparation. It is a drug of choice in patients that cannot be treated with non- steroidal anti – inflammatory drugs (NSAID), such as people with bronchial asthma , peptic ulcer disease, hemophilia, salicylate – sensitized people, children under 12 yrs of age, pregnant or breast feeding women. It is recommended as a first line treatment of pain associated with osteoarthritis. The mechanism of action is complex and includes the effect of both the peripheral and central antinociception process and “redox” mechanism.  Paracetamol is a well tolerated drug and produces few side effects from the gastro intestinal tract, however, despite that, every year, has been a steadily increasing in number of registered cases of  paracetamol-induced liver intoxication all over the world.