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Study breakdown

Acetaminophen's Pain Relief Partly Works Through the Opioid System

Animal StudyPreliminary evidence
The takeaway

Acetaminophen's spinal-supraspinal analgesic synergy in mice was partially blocked by opioid antagonists, revealing that this common over-the-counter painkiller works partly through the endogenous opioid system.

Key finding

Acetaminophen's spinal/supraspinal antinociceptive self-synergy was attenuated by opioid receptor antagonists in mice, demonstrating an opioid recepto

What the researchers found

Acetaminophen's spinal/supraspinal antinociceptive self-synergy was attenuated by opioid receptor antagonists in mice, demonstrating an opioid receptor component to acetaminophen's pain-relieving mechanism.

Why it matters

Relevant for opioid-peptides, pain, receptor-signaling.

How the study worked

animal-study study on opioid-peptides, pain.

What this study cannot tell us

See abstract.

How to read the evidence

preliminary evidence.

When this study was published

Published in 2004.

The bigger picture

Advances peptide research.

Questions still open

  • Further research needed.
  • Clinical translation to evaluate.

Common questions

What was studied?
Acetaminophen's Pain Relief Partly Works Through the Opioid System
What was found?
Acetaminophen's spinal-supraspinal analgesic synergy in mice was partially blocked by opioid antagonists, revealing that this common over-the-counter painkiller works partly through the endogenous opioid system.

Read the original research

Opioid receptors and acetaminophen (paracetamol).

European journal of pharmacology, 503(1-3), 209-10

Citation

Raffa, Robert B; Walker, Ellen A; Sterious, Steven N. (2004). Opioid receptors and acetaminophen (paracetamol).. European journal of pharmacology, 503(1-3), 209-10.