Does Acetaminophen have Penicillin?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Does Acetaminophen have Penicillin?
No, Acetaminophen does not contain Penicillin. These two are different medications which are intended for entirely different health conditions.
Acetaminophen is an OTC painkiller and fever reducer, whereas Penicillin is a prescription antibiotic that is active against a number of bacterial species. Acetaminophen can’t do what Penicillin does, and vice versa.
If you need Acetaminophen for your pain and fever, you can get this medication from your local pharmacy. However, if you think you need Penicillin, you should consult your healthcare provider.
There are a huge number of bacterial infections that Penicillin can’t treat. This is why proper diagnosis is necessary to control the active bacterial infection in your body.
Make sure you only take the antibiotic that your healthcare provider has prescribed. If Penicillin is the drug of choice for you, your doctor will write it down. Don’t ever take antibiotics without consulting your doctor first.
Basic differences between Acetaminophen and Penicillin
Acetaminophen and Penicillin are entirely different from one another. Let’s talk about the basic differences to help you understand these drugs in a better way.
Mechanism of action
Acetaminophen works by reducing pain and fever through its action on the central nervous system (CNS). It blocks certain chemicals in the brain called prostaglandins, which are responsible for transmitting pain signals and regulating body temperature (1,2).
By inhibiting the production of prostaglandins, acetaminophen helps to alleviate pain and lower fever.
Penicillin, on the other hand, is an antibiotic that works by disrupting the formation of bacterial cell walls. Bacteria have cell walls that provide structure and protection. Penicillin interferes with the synthesis of a component called peptidoglycan, which is crucial for building the cell wall (3).
By inhibiting this process, penicillin weakens and ultimately destroys the bacterial cell wall. As a result, bacteria are unable to maintain their shape and integrity, leading to their death.
Clinical significant
Acetaminophen is primarily used to relieve pain and reduce fever. It can help alleviate various types of pain, such as headaches, toothaches, muscle aches, and pain associated with arthritis. Acetaminophen is also effective in reducing fever, which is a common symptom of many illnesses (1).
Penicillin, on the other hand, can be used to treat the following infections (4):
- Strep throat
- Skin infections
- Ear infections
- Some types of urinary tract infections
- Respiratory tract infections
Common side effects
Common side effects of Acetaminophen may include (1):
- Nausea
- Upset stomach
- Headache
- Dizziness
In rare cases or cases of overdose, Acetaminophen can cause liver damage.
Penicillin, on the other hand, can cause side effects including (3):
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Mouth sores
- Abdominal pain
Gastrointestinal side effects are quite common with antibiotics like Penicillin and Amoxicillin, which may be prevented when the antibiotic is taken with food. In some rare cases, Penicillin can trigger an allergic or hypersensitivity reaction.
Final words
To sum up, Acetaminophen and Penicillin are two different medications used for different therapeutic reasons. The two medications can be safely used together, but they can’t replace one another.
Make sure you reach out to your healthcare provider if you think you have a bacterial infection. Penicillin may not be the best choice for you, as there are plenty of antibiotics with a broader spectrum of antibacterial activity compared to Penicillin.
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References
1.-
Gerriets V, Anderson J, Nappe TM. Acetaminophen. 2022 Sep 18. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 29493991. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482369
2.-
PubChem [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US), National Center for Biotechnology Information; 2004-. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 1983, Acetaminophen; [cited 2023 July 6]. Available from: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Acetaminophen
3.-
Yip DW, Gerriets V. Penicillin. 2022 May 19. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 32119447. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554560
4.-
Nathwani D, Wood MJ. Penicillins. A current review of their clinical pharmacology and therapeutic use. Drugs. 1993 Jun;45(6):866-894. doi: 10.2165/00003495-199345060-00002. PMID: 7691496. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7691496/
