Medicines

Also called: Drugs, Medication     On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests

Learn More

• Related Issues

See, Play and Learn

• No links available

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Teenagers
• Women
• Older Adults
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Medicines can treat diseases and improve your health. If you are like most people, you need to take medicine at some point in your life. You may need to take medicine every day, or you may only need to take medicine once in a while. Either way, you want to make sure that your medicines are safe, and that they will help you get better. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration is in charge of ensuring that your prescription and over-the-counter medicines are safe and effective.
There are always risks to taking medicines. It is important to think about these risks before you take a medicine. Even safe medicines can cause unwanted side effects or interactions with food, alcohol, or other medicines you may be taking. Some medicines may not be safe during pregnancy. To reduce the risk of reactions and make sure that you get better, it is important for you to take your medicines correctly. You should also be careful when giving medicines to children, since they can be more vulnerable to the effects of medicines.

Start Here

• Drugs@FDA: FDA Approved Drug Products (Food and Drug Administration)
• Index to Drug-Specific Information (Food and Drug Administration)
• Information for Consumers and Patients (Drugs) (Food and Drug Administration)
• MedlinePlus: Drug Information (National Library of Medicine) - Information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines and supplements
• Also in Spanish
• Think It Through: Managing the Benefits and Risks of Medicines (Food and Drug Administration)
• Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Pharmacogenetic Tests  (National Library of Medicine)
• Also in Spanish
• Pharmacogenetics: How Genetic Testing Can Guide Medicine Decisions  (Nemours Foundation)
• Also in Spanish
• Therapeutic Drug Monitoring  (National Library of Medicine)
• Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Biosimilar and Interchangeable Biologics: More Treatment Choices (Food and Drug Administration)
• Also in Spanish
• Disposal of Unused Medicines: What You Should Know (Food and Drug Administration)
• Also in Spanish
• Electronic Prescribing (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
• Generic Drugs Undergo Rigorous FDA Review (Food and Drug Administration)
• Generic Drugs: Questions & Answers (Food and Drug Administration)
• Herbal Supplements and Heart Medicines May Not Mix (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Also in Spanish
• How to Use Liquid Medications (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists)
• How to Use Transdermal Patches (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists)
• Mixing Medications and Dietary Supplements Can Endanger Your Health (Food and Drug Administration)
• Also in Spanish
• Some Medicines and Driving Don't Mix (Food and Drug Administration)
• Also in Spanish
• Understanding Unapproved Use of Approved Drugs "Off Label" (Food and Drug Administration)
• Using Medicines Wisely  (Food and Drug Administration)
• Also in Spanish
• Where and How to Dispose of Unused Medicines (Food and Drug Administration)
• Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

• FastStats: Therapeutic Drug Use (National Center for Health Statistics)
• How Do Medicines Work?  (National Institute of General Medical Sciences)
• LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury  (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; National Library of Medicine)
• What Happens to Medicine in Your Body?  (National Institute of General Medical Sciences)
• What is Pharmacology?  (National Institute of General Medical Sciences)

Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Pricing strategy research in the dual-channel pharmaceutical supply chain considering service. 
• Article: Citizens' views on prices of medicines reimbursed by the National Health... 
• Article: Effects of Pharmaceutical Substances with Obesogenic Activity on Male Reproductive Health. 
• Medicines -- see more articles 

Reference Desk

• Some Medicines and Driving Don't Mix (Food and Drug Administration)
• Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

• Food and Drug Administration 

Children

• Medicines and Children: MedlinePlus Health Topic  (National Library of Medicine)
• Also in Spanish

Teenagers

• Understanding Medications and What They Do (Nemours Foundation)
• Also in Spanish

Women

• Osteoporosis (Endocrine Society)

Older Adults

• 5 Medication Safety Tips for Older Adults (Food and Drug Administration)
• Also in Spanish
• As You Age: You and Your Medicines (Food and Drug Administration)
• Medications Older Adults Should Avoid or Use With Caution (AGS Health in Aging Foundation)

Patient Handouts

• Drawing medicine out of a vial (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Also in Spanish
• How and when to get rid of unused medicines (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Also in Spanish
• How to save money on medicines (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Also in Spanish
• IV treatment at home (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Also in Spanish
• Storing your medicines (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Also in Spanish
• Therapeutic drug levels (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Also in Spanish

Topic Image

hn

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

• Drawing medicine out of a vial
• Giving an IM (intramuscular) injection
• How and when to get rid of unused medicines
• How to save money on medicines
• IV treatment at home
• Pharmacogenetic testing
• Pharmacogenetics
• Storing your medicines
• Taking medicines - what to ask your provider
• Therapeutic drug levels

Show More

Related Health Topics

• Antibiotics
• Cancer Chemotherapy
• Complementary and Integrative Medicine
• Drug Reactions
• Drug Safety
• Herbal Medicine
• Medication Errors
• Medicines and Children
• Over-the-Counter Medicines
• Pain Relievers
• Pregnancy and Medicines
• Vitamins

Other Languages

Find health information in languages other than English on Medicines

Disclaimers

MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our disclaimer about external links and our quality guidelines.
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

Napa

paracetamol

Manufacturer: Beximco Pharma
Distributor: Pharmatech Resources
Concise Prescribing InfoFull Prescribing InfoContentsDescriptionIndications/UsesDosage/Direction for UseOverdosageContraindicationsSpecial PrecautionsSide EffectsStorageMIMS ClassATC ClassificationRegulatory ClassificationPresentation/Packing
Full Prescribing Info
Contents
Paracetamol.
Description
Napa (Paracetamol) is a fast acting and safe analgesic with marked antipyretic property. It is specially suitable for patients who, for any reason, can not tolerate aspirin or other analgesics.
Indications/Uses
Napa suppositories are used for rapid symptomatic management of pain and fever. It is given as rectal suppository for mild to moderate pain and for pyrexia.
Dosage/Direction for Use
Napa suppositories are also available for paediatric use.
Children: 1-5 years: 125-250 mg, 6-12 years: 250-500 mg, up to 4 times daily.
Overdosage
Symptoms of paracetamol overdose in the first 24 hours are pallor, nausea, vomiting, anorexia and abdominal pain. Liver damage may become apparent 12 to 40 hours after ingestion. Abnormalities of glucose metabolism and metabolic acidosis may occur.
Contraindications
Paracetamol is contraindicated in patients with severe renal function impairment and hepatic disease (Viral Hepatitis).
Special Precautions
Serious skin reactions: Rarely, paracetamol may cause serious skin reactions such as acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), which can be fatal. Patients should be informed about the signs of serious skin reactions, and use of the drug should be discontinued at the first appearance of skin rash or any other sign of hypersensitivity. Paracetamol should be given with care to patients with impaired kidney or liver function. Paracetamol should be given with care to patients taking other drugs that affect the liver.
Side Effects
Side effects of paracetamol are usually mild, though haematological reactions including thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, pancytopenia, neutropenia, and agranulocytosis have been reported. Pancreatitis, skin rashes, and other allergic reactions occur occasionally.
Storage
Store in a cool dry place. Store suppositories below 30°C.
MIMS Class
Analgesics (Non-Opioid) & Antipyretics
ATC Classification
N02BE01 - paracetamol ; Belongs to the class of anilide preparations. Used to relieve pain and fever.
Regulatory Classification
GSL
Presentation/Packing
Form
Napa supp 250 mg
Packing/Price
20's