Because patients are accustomed to taking aspirin sporadically for headaches and other minor pains, it must be emphasized that, for cancer pain control, the medication is to be taken regularly, whether pain is present or not, at the prescribed time. The antipyretic effect limits the use of these drugs in patients who are neutropenic because an infection could be masked. Studies have shown that the augmented effect is more than merely the sum of the analgesic potencies of the two drugs. Acetaminophen has analgesic and antipyretic but weak anti-inflammatory activity. It has no adverse effect on platelets and does not irritate the gastrointestinal tract.
Hepatic toxicity occurs when high doses are used and in patients with a history of alcohol abuse.
Acetaminophen is also frequently used in combination with weak opiates. When increasing the dose of drugs, i.e., increasing the number of tablets per dose combining opiates with acetaminophen, one must be careful not to unwittingly reach a toxic dose of acetaminophen. Website Copyright 1999-2001, Texas Cancer Council . All Rights Reserved. Site last updated September 18, 2001.