Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen

By Eric Zuberi

Period A

Chemistry .1

Introduction

Acetaminophen (C₈H₉NO₂), commonly referred to as Tylenol, is a medicine that is used to treat mild to moderate pains. It is often used for headaches, toothaches, stomach aches, colds, sore throats, reactions to vaccinations, as well as Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is also used to reduce fevers. Because of this, it is classified as an analgesic (pain relieving) and an antipyretic (fever reducing) medicine. Acetaminophen, is the active ingredient in Tylenol. Because it is man-made, it can only be found in a laboratory. It is made in a basic reaction between p-aminophenol and acetic anhydride. The reaction looks like this: C₆H₄(OH)(NH₂) + (CH₃CO)₂O à C₈H₉NO₂. Acetaminophen works by blocking the body’s production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are naturally occurring chemicals that cause inflammation and fever. Acetaminophen blocks the development/production of prostaglandins in the central nervous system. Because of this, Acetaminophen reduces our fevers and the inflammation that our body incurs on itself.