Paracetamol 367mg / Caffeine 30mg tablets

Background: Energy drinks (EDs) are non-alcoholic, functional beverages sold worldwide in more than 165 countries. These products are very popular and often consumed by children, teenagers, and young adults to improve physical performance, reduce drowsiness, and improve memory and concentration with increased intellectual effort. However, their consumption is associated with an increased risk of various health consequences. Objectives: The purpose of this non-systematic review was to discuss the components of EDs and their effects, summarize the AEs reported in the literature associated with the consumption of EDs, and briefly characterize the possible ED-related drug interactions. Methods: Scientific evidence was extracted by searching the databases PubMed and Google Scholar. In addition, the reference lists of the retrieved papers were reviewed and cross-referenced to reveal additional relevant scientific evidence. Results: The most common ingredients in EDs are caffeine, taurine, glucuronolactone, B vitamins, the vitamin-like compound inositol, and sweeteners (sugar, fructose, glucose-fructose syrup or artificial sweeteners). Although it is difficult to conclusively prove a cause-and-effect relationship between the consumption of EDs and the observed pathophysiological abnormalities, most scientific evidence (mostly clinical case reports) indicates that both occasional and especially chronic use of EDs is associated with the occurrence of numerous adverse effects (AEs). Among these, the best documented AEs are those on the cardiovascular system. It should also be noted that the components of EDs (primarily caffeine) may have drug interactions; therefore, EDs may be an important factor influencing the safety of pharmacotherapy in patients consuming EDs. Conclusions: Consuming energy drinks lead to various health problems and may interfere with pharmacotherapy due to the potential development of drug interactions. Due to the widespread availability of EDs, their suggestive advertising aimed at the youngest customers, and ambiguous regulations, new legislative policies are required to limit the widespread consumption of such products and their negative health effects.

Abstract licence: CC BY

BackgroundOrthodontic pain results from local inflammation and is usually treated with analgesics; however, the effectiveness of acupressure as a nonpharmacological alternative remains uncertain.ObjectivesTo compare the effectiveness of acupressure and paracetamol at relieving pain perception in patients undergoing orthodontic tooth movement.MethodsPatients aged 12 years or older undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment were randomly assigned to two parallel groups (paracetamol or acupressure) using simple non-stratified randomization with an allocation ratio of 1:1. Pain intensity was assessed twice daily using a visual analog scale ranging from 0 to 10 for five days following bonding. Pain scores were compared between groups using the Mann-Whitney U test, and differences in analgesic usage were assessed with the Chi-square test (p ResultsIn total, 61 participants were analyzed. Overall pain perception did not differ significantly between groups (p > 0.05). Analgesic use was higher in the paracetamol group on day two, but only significantly different at the evening time point (p = 0.012). Analgesic usage declined in both groups over subsequent days and no further significant differences were observed. Acupressure application peaked on day two and then decreased steadily through day five. No adverse effects were reported in either group.ConclusionsAcupressure appeared to reduce reliance on medication during the peak initial orthodontic pain period, suggesting its potential use as a conservative alternative for short-term pain management.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Background/Objectives: Although patients with breast cancer often undergo multiple oncologic procedures after primary tumor resection, an optimal postoperative analgesic strategy remains undefined. We evaluated the efficacy of acetaminophen/ibuprofen as an adjunct to opioid-based patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) following oncoplastic breast surgery. Methods: In this double-blind randomized controlled trial, 79 patients were assigned to receive either acetaminophen/ibuprofen or saline. A 100 mL solution containing 1000 mg acetaminophen and 300 mg ibuprofen was administered at the end of surgery, and 200 mL was incorporated into a fentanyl-based PCA for infusion over 48 h. The control group received an equivalent volume of saline. The primary outcome was pain intensity at 1 h postoperatively, assessed using an 11-point numerical rating scale. Secondary outcomes included pain scores at 6, 24, and 48 h, cumulative fentanyl consumption via PCA, additional analgesic use, and adverse effects. Results: Pain scores at 1 h postoperatively were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (median [IQR], 2 [2, 2] vs. 2 [2, 3], p = 0.040). Cumulative fentanyl volume administered via PCA was lower in the intervention group at 24 h (252.4 [186.7, 289.9] mcg vs. 299.7 [208.3, 366.6] mcg, p p = 0.001). Fewer patients in the intervention group required rescue analgesics during the first 6 h (22 [56.4%] vs. 32 [80.0%], p = 0.024). Pain scores and rescue analgesic use thereafter did not differ between groups. Conclusions: Adjunctive acetaminophen/ibuprofen with opioid-based PCA reduced early postoperative pain, opioid consumption, and rescue analgesia without increasing adverse effects.

Abstract licence: CC BY