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Intravenous paracetamol (Prodafalgan) causes hypotension in critically ill patients
Critical Care volume 8, Article number: P244 (2004)
Introduction
Some critically ill patients cannot absorb enteral medications. We noted that intravenous (IV) Prodafalgan (PRDFG), a recently introduced parenteral bioprecursor of paracetamol, caused hypotension. A prospective study was conducted.
Methods
The population was ICU patients requiring IV PRDFG (rectal temperature ≥ 38°C, no enteral route). PRDFG (2 g) was infused over 15–20 min. The temperature, heart rate, systolic/diastolic blood pressure and mean blood pressure (MAP) were recorded before, during and 15–120 min following infusion. Interventions to correct hypotension were recorded.
Results
Seventy-two events, in 14 patients, of PRDFG administration were recorded. MAP dropped significantly 15 min following PRDFG infusion. Initiation or increase of noradrenaline occurred in 25% of the events and fluid bolus was given in 8%.
Conclusions
PRDFG caused significant hypotension, requiring active intervention in 33% of the events. This data substantiated the anecdotal knowledge on the relationship between paracetamol (acetaminophen) and hypotension in the critically ill and associated it with the IV preparation.

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Hersch, M., Kanter, L., Gurevitz, M. et al. Intravenous paracetamol (Prodafalgan) causes hypotension in critically ill patients. Crit Care 8 (Suppl 1), P244 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1186/cc2711
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/cc2711