What is the action of paracetamol in critical care patients?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does the metabolism and pharmacokinetics of paracetamol differ from normal in critically ill patients?
IRAS ID
205963
Contact name
Shondipon Laha
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 4 days
Research summary
Paracetamol is frequently used in critically ill patients, for both fever and analgesia. However, following recent studies, it has been proposed that in this population, the metabolism of paracetamol may differ. It is thought that critically ill patients may take longer to reach a therapeutic level following paracetamol administration, and may spend less time at this therapeutic level, resulting in reduced efficacy of paracetamol in this patient group. To date only one small study has analysed paracetamol levels in the critically ill, therefore further evidence is required to support this, and guide paracetamol prescribing in this cohort.
This study will aim to determine if the metabolism of paracetamol is different in critically ill patients. This is important as, if this is the case, it is likely that current paracetamol dosing regimens are insufficient for critically ill patients and that dosing regimens may need to be adjusted. This study will involve patients admitted to the critical care unit at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals (a 24 bedded unit), who are prescribed regular intravenous paracetamol at the current recommended doses (as guided by patients’ weight). The study will take place over a three month period. All participants will receive the same care as is routine on critical care. In addition, they will have nine serum paracetamol levels measured over a 72 hour period. This will require taking seven additional blood samples and adding paracetamol levels as an additional test to two routinely collected blood samples. Participants will also have their temperature and blood pressure measured at 15 and 30 minutes following their doses of paracetamol in this 72 hour period.
REC name
Wales REC 5
REC reference
16/WA/0146
Date of REC Opinion
10 Jun 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion