N-acetyl-p-amino-phenol (paracetamol, acetaminophen) in the treatment of acute schizophrenia

Abstract

SynopsisThe hypothesis that schizophrenia is caused by the release of prostaglandin E into the hypothalamus and may sometimes be accompanied by an elevation of temperature was examined by a clinical trial of the prostaglandin E suppressant N-acetyl-p-amino-phenol (paracetamol, acetaminophen). Ten acute schizophrenic patients were included in a double-blind, crossover trial of paracetamol and a placebo, in which each treatment was given for a week. Regular 4-hourly temperatures were recorded in all these cases and in 5 non-schizophrenic patients for comparison. The findings provided no evidence that paracetamol mitigated the symptoms of schizophrenia. The temperatures of the schizophrenics were not elevated more than those of the controls, but the number of cases used was probably too small for this finding to be conclusive.

Aminotransferase Elevations in Healthy Adults Receiving 4 Grams of Acetaminophen Daily

“…An association between therapeutic dosing of acetaminophen and elevations in ALT has not been previously reported. Several studies [4][5][6][7][8] have measured serum ALT between days 5 and 30 after starting therapy with acetaminophen and have expressly stated that no or only very minor ALT elevations were observed. These studies have involved a variety of patient populations that were generally elderly.…”