Drug Database
PA

paracetamol (paracetamol, EFVDAS)

✓ Approved

Elan · PTGS1 · Small Molecule

What is paracetamol?

paracetamol is a small molecule developed by Elan. It is approved for therapeutic indications via oral (po).

Drug Profile

Brand Namesparacetamol, EFVDAS
CompanyElan
Drug ClassSmall Molecule
Molecular TargetPTGS1, PTGS2
RouteOral (PO)
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Elan

Mechanism of Action

Molecular Targets

paracetamol acts on 2 molecular targets:

PTGS1prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 1 (COX3, PCOX1)
PTGS2prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (GRIPGHS, hCox-2)
Want deeper analysis?Noah AI can explain complex mechanisms and compare to similar drugs.

Therapeutic Indications

paracetamol is developed for 1 unique indication across 1 therapeutic area.

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Gastrointestinal disordersAbdominal pain✓ Approved

Related Research Articles

PubMedBritish dental journal2026-07-11

Ten-year trends in antimicrobial and analgesic prescribing by NHS dentists in England: a retrospective analysis study.

Patel Nikul N, Seoudi Noha N

Aims Evidence on long-term National Health Service (NHS) dental prescribing is limited. This study aimed to identify whether utilisation of analgesics and antimicrobials returned to pre-Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) levels in primary dental care, highlighting the national efforts needed to ensure patient safety when prescribing in dentistry.Methods Ten years of data from the NHS Business Services Authority on the utilisation of antimicrobials and analgesics by primary care dentists between January 2014 and December 2023 were obtained. Significant distributional changes were analysed using chi-square test, focusing on the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on prescribing.Results Total antimicrobial and analgesic prescribing returned to near pre-pandemic levels by December 2023 (antimicrobials - February 2020: 373.8, December 2023: 358 items/100,000; analgesics - February 2020: 8.78, December 2023: 8.35 items/100,000). Amoxicillin, metronidazole, erythromycin, paracetamol and diclofenac fell significantly versus peak (p <0.05). Clindamycin declined post-pandemic but remained above pre-pandemic levels (February 2020: 1.83, December 2023: 2.00 items/100,000). Dihydrocodeine comprised 42% of analgesics in December 2023 and exceeded pre-pandemic levels (February 2020: 3.22, December 2023: 3.51 items/100,000).Conclusions Prescribing guidelines and stewardship programs contributed to reduced antimicrobial use, though pandemic disruptions reversed progress. Relatively higher clindamycin prescribing raises concerns about Clostridioides difficile risk. Continued reliance on dihydrocodeine despite its side-effect profile highlights the importance of a national plan to ensure regular training and self-audit.

PMID 42432098
Read full article →
PubMedMalaria journal2026-07-09

Preparation, characterization and pre-clinical evaluation of artemether-lumefantrine-paracetamol (AL-P) loaded nanocarriers in the treatment of malaria.

Muchonjo John K JK, Mbaria James M JM, Towett Philemon K PK, Omwoyo Wesley N WN et al.

Malaria remains a pertinent global health burden. Current artemether-lumefantrine (AL) therapy is limited by low bioavailability and drug resistance, necessitating new approaches. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) offer a promising delivery system to mitigate these issues. This study investigates SLNs for the co-delivery of AL and paracetamol to enhance the efficacy and safety of this anti-malarial regimen. Solid lipid nanoparticles co-loaded with artemether, lumefantrine, and paracetamol were produced using melt-emulsion ultrasonication and analyzed using dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. Antiplasmodial activity was established in a Plasmodium berghei-infected mouse model using daily dosing and a single 2 mg/kg dose. Parasitemia, survival, and toxicity by histology and biochemistry were quantified. Optimized ALP-SLNs had desirable physicochemical properties, including a particle size of 187.6 ± 3.2 nm, PDI of 0.142, and a zeta potential of - 50.1 ± 1.4 mV, and TEM micrographs confirmed spherical shape. Encapsulation efficiencies were > 88% (ART: 88.79%, LUM: 99.19%, PAR: 99.85%), and loading capacities were ART: 12.4%, LUM: 11.8%, PAR: 13.1%. In vivo antiplasmodial tests for activity against Plasmodium berghei ANKA in Swiss Albino mice exhibited > 95% chemosuppression (95.67%) and 100% day-60 survival with ALP-SLNs, surpassing free drugs and placebo nanoparticles. Toxicity studies in pre-clinical experiments showed normal parameters, except for one mouse that developed a pulmonary lesion. ALP SLNs demonstrated favorable physicochemical properties, a satisfactory safety profile in acute and sub-acute preclinical testing, and superior antiplasmodial efficacy and a highly effective delivery system for malaria triple therapy compared to free drugs. These findings highlight their potential in overcoming malaria treatment challenges, hence supporting further pharmacokinetic and translational studies toward clinical evaluation.

PMID 42420999
Read full article →
PubMedNeuropediatrics2026-07-09

Primary Headache in Children: Clinical Characteristics and Impact on School Functioning in a Low-Resource Country.

Abu Libdeh Amal A, Alsubehat Lara L, Tabbalat Nada N, Mraish Shahed S et al.

Primary headaches in children impair daily functioning, yet data from Jordan, particularly regarding their effect on school functioning, have not been systematically evaluated. The objective of this study is to assess the clinical characteristics of pediatric primary headaches in central Jordan and their association with school functioning. A cross-sectional study included children aged 5 to 18 years diagnosed with primary headaches at three public hospitals. Data were collected using a structured, culturally adapted questionnaire incorporating items from the validated Arabic PedsQL 4.0 school-functioning scale. Descriptive, univariable, and multivariable analyses were performed to identify factors associated with impaired school functioning. A total of 147 children were included (51% male; 61.2% aged 10-14 years). Migraine was most common (60.5%), followed by tension-type headache (23.8%). Common triggers included stress, noise, and sleep disturbance. Unfavorable lifestyle factors-increased screen time, skipped meals, low hydration, and limited physical activity-were prevalent. More than 92% of participants had impairment in at least one school-functioning domain. Poor academic performance and lower parental education were significantly associated with lower scores. In multivariable analysis, poorer academic performance and lower paternal education remained independently associated with worse school-functioning scores, whereas headache type and frequency were not significant predictors. Most patients used simple analgesics (paracetamol in 93%), whereas migraine-specific rescue medications and preventive therapies were rarely used. Primary headaches in children are associated with substantial impairment in school functioning. Educational and family-related factors appear more influential than headache-specific variables. Addressing modifiable lifestyle and contextual factors may improve outcomes.

PMID 42419373
Read full article →
PubMedFrontiers in pediatrics2026-07-09

Pain assessment and management practices in Hungarian neonatal intensive care units: a nationwide survey.

Ivancsó Johanna J, Tálosi Gyula G

Neonates hospitalized in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) are frequently exposed to painful procedures. Despite increasing evidence regarding the adverse short- and long-term consequences of untreated neonatal pain, pain assessment and management remain inadequate worldwide. This study aimed to describe neonatal pain assessment and management practices in Hungarian level III NICUs. A prospective multicenter cross-sectional survey was conducted between June and October 2023. An anonymous online questionnaire was distributed to the heads of all Hungarian level III NICUs. Fourteen of the 21 Hungarian level III NICUs participated in the survey (response rate: 67%). Only 2 (14%) of NICUs reported using a comprehensive written pain management guideline, and the same two (14%) NICUs routinely used validated neonatal pain assessment scales. Non-pharmacological pain management methods were used in all units, although their type and frequency varied substantially. Reported methods included kangaroo care, breastfeeding, expressed breast milk, pacifier, facilitated tucking, sensorial saturation, music therapy, massage, oral sucrose, and co-bedding. Sucrose administration and pacifier use were the most frequently reported non-pharmacological interventions (13/14, 93% each). Postoperative analgesia was routinely administered in all surgical NICUs, while procedural analgesia, in addition to continuous opioid administration was reported by only 40% of these centers. Routine analgesia during mechanical ventilation was used in 86% of units. The most frequently prescribed medications were paracetamol for postoperative pain and fentanyl for ventilated patients. One NICU reported the use of sedatives without concomitant analgesic therapy. Neonatal pain assessment and management practices remain inconsistent in Hungarian NICUs. These findings should be interpreted cautiously, as the study was exploratory and relied on self-reported practices, which may overestimate actual adherence to neonatal pain management recommendations. However, wider implementation of standardized guidelines, validated pain assessment tools, and evidence-based pain management strategies is warranted.

PMID 42422458
Read full article →
PubMedPsychoneuroendocrinology2026-07-09

Beyond a simple marker of stress: A multiverse analysis of biopsychosocial associations with hair cortisol and cortisone.

Janousch Clarissa C, Eggenberger Lukas L, Johnson-Ferguson Lydia L, Voegel Clarissa D CD et al.

Hair concentrations of cortisol and cortisone are increasingly used as potential biomarkers of chronic stress. However, their validity as indicators of psychosocial stress remains debated, as prior research shows variable associations with stress-related psychological and behavioral factors. This study systematically investigates a broad set of biopsychosocial correlates of hair glucocorticoids in young adults, leveraging a multiverse framework to evaluate the robustness of associations often reported as variable in prior work. Using data from the Zurich Project on the Social Development from Childhood to Adulthood, a large community-based age cohort, we employed a multiverse analysis to explore relationships between more than 60 biological, psychological, and contextual variables and three hair-based outcomes (cortisol, cortisone, and a combined score of both) at ages 20 (n = 1,002) and 24 (n = 887). Specification curve analyses were performed on the full sample and separately by sex, systematically varying model choices (i.e., inclusion/exclusion of covariates). Hair characteristics (i.e., color, washing intensity, chemical treatment), sampling season, body mass index, and, among women, hormonal contraception, showed strong associations with glucocorticoids and were included as covariates. Sweating intensity was associated with glucocorticoids primarily in females, but not in males. Hair concentrations of drugs (i.e., Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cocaine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA, "Ecstasy"], paracetamol) and the hormone testosterone were consistently linked to steroid outcomes. Several psychosocial factors were associated with hair glucocorticoids: migration background, perceived stress, symptoms of anxiety/depression, sports activity, and social exclusion. These factors exhibited stronger correlations with cortisol, while media use, aggression, and effective coping were more closely associated with cortisone. The combined steroid score mainly reflected associations detected for cortisol, but with weaker effect sizes. Associations varied descriptively by age and sex, with more associations detected in males at age 20 and in females at age 24. In cohort studies, corticosteroids in hair can reflect specific facets of psychosocial stress when critical confounders and sex are considered.

PMID 42419163
Read full article →
PubMedNaunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology2026-07-07

Retraction Note: Comprehensive in vivo and in silico approaches to explore the hepatoprotective activity of poncirin against paracetamol toxicity.

Ullah Hadayat H, Khan Ashrafullah A, Bibi Tehmina T, Ahmad Sajjad S et al.

PMID 42412214
Read full article →

+9996 more articles available with a free account

Sign up free to view all articles →

Ask about paracetamol