Acetaminophen Clinical Guidelines and Studies

Clinical Resources: Links, Downloads, and Printable Materials

McNeil Consumer Healthcare is pleased to make these resources available to you. Return often; new materials will continue to be added.

Osteoarthritis Treatment

Framingham on Osteoarthritis: Comprehensive Care*

These three collections present abstracts of nearly 60 relevant recent studies in OA care. A broad range of topics is represented.

*Framingham on Osteoarthritis: Comprehensive Care is supported by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, the makers of TYLENOL®.

Framingham on OA, Issue 1 (PDF ~488KB)
Topics include: recommendations for treatment of hand OA; meta-analysis of chondroitin studies; validation of the short-form WOMAC; review of prognostic factors for progression of knee OA, and more.
Framingham on OA, Issue 2 (PDF ~497KB)
Topics include: The Rotterdam Study and metabolic factors' effect on hand OA; etoricoxib compared with naproxen; meta-analysis of acupuncture for knee OA, and more.
Framingham on OA, Issue 3 (PDF ~604KB)
Topics include: 2008 Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) consensus guidelines; short-measure physical function form for hip OA; clinical comorbidity and physical function in OA; new methods of measuring joint space width in hand radiographs, and more.
OARSI consensus guidelines on hip and knee OA (2008)
Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) presents 25 evidence-based, expert consensus recommendations for the management of hip and knee OA. Recommendations encompass non-pharmacologic, pharmacologic, and surgical modalities.

Professional Guidelines

These organizations have recommended acetaminophen as a first-line treatment for a range of conditions:

Osteoarthritis Pain
Persistent Pain in Older Adults
In Musculoskeletal Pain in Known Cardiovascular Disease

Acetaminophen is recommended for musculoskeletal symptoms with known cardiovascular disease or risk factors for ischemic heart disease.

*The American College of Rheumatology is an independent professional, medical, and scientific society that does not guarantee, warrant, or endorse any commercial product or service.

Acetaminophen vs. ibuprofen

Comparison of an anti-inflammatory dose of ibuprofen, an analgesic dose of ibuprofen, and acetaminophen in the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee (PDF ~496KB).
Bradley JD, Brandt KD, Katz BP, et al.

Acetaminophen vs. rofecoxib and celecoxib

Efficacy of rofecoxib, celecoxib, and acetaminophen in osteoarthritis of the knee (PDF ~124KB).
Geba GP, Weaver AL, Polis AB, et al.

Acetaminophen Safety Studies

Long-term data in patients with osteoarthritis
Multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, parallel-group trial of the long-term (6-12 months) safety of acetaminophen in adult patients with osteoarthritis (PDF ~996KB).
Temple AR, Benson GD, Zinsenheim JR and Schweinle JE.
Use in patients with liver disease
The therapeutic use of acetaminophen in patients with liver disease (PDF ~112KB).
Benson GD, Koff RS and Tolman KG.

Acetaminophen and ALT Levels

ALT activity in short-term treatment
Aminotransferase activities in healthy subjects receiving three-day dosing of 4, 6, or 8 grams per day of acetaminophen (PDF ~248KB).
Temple AR, Lynch JM, Vena JV, et al.
ALT activity in long-term treatment
Retrospective analysis of transient elevations of alanine aminotransferase during long-term treatment with acetaminophen in osteoarthritis clinical trials (PDF ~444KB).
Kuffner EK, Temple AR, Cooper KM, et al.

Management of Acetaminophen Overdose

Guidelines for the Management of Acetaminophen Overdose (PDF 2.3MB).
McNeil Consumer Healthcare.
Nomogram for acute acetaminophen overdose (PDF 172KB).
McNeil Consumer Healthcare.

Acetaminophen Overview

TYLENOL® Professional Product Monograph (PDF 412KB).
McNeil Consumer Healthcare.