Antipyretics

Do not prescribe regular intravenous paracetamol unless authorised by the Duty Consultant.

• Oral or enteral paracetamol is absorbed in the stomach, so is effective in patients who are “nil by mouth” or have an ileus.
• Each time an intravenous line is accessed, the risk of a line infection increases
• Intravenous paracetamol is much more expensive than oral / enteral paracetamol, and is no more effective if the patient has a working GIT.