Ondansetron may reduce the analgesic effect of acetaminophen/paracetamol.

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• L Ramirez, J Cros, B Marin, P Boulogne, A Bergeron, G E de Lafont, F Renon-Carron, M-A de Vinzelles, V Guigonis, N Nathan, and P Beaulieu.
• Department of Anaesthesia, CHU Limoges, France.
• Eur J Pain. 2015 May 1;19(5):661-8.

BackgroundThe mechanism of action of acetaminophen remains unclear. One hypothesis involves an interaction with the serotoninergic system. Antagonists to serotonin (5-HT)3 receptors (setrons) have antiemetic properties. Therefore, co-administration of acetaminophen and a setron could lead to a decrease or a loss of acetaminophen analgesic effects. The aim of this study was to demonstrate such an interaction.MethodsParatron is a prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind, parallel group trial. All children aged 2-7 years (n = 69) scheduled for a tonsillectomy ± adenoidectomy received intraoperative acetaminophen with ondansetron or droperidol. Pain scores [Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale (CHEOPS)], morphine consumption and the incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were measured for 24 h following surgery.ResultsPain scores were not different at all times between the groups but median morphine consumption (μg) in recovery was 322.5 [interquartile range (IQR) 0.0-500.0] and 0 (IQR 0-0) in the ondansetron (n = 35) and droperidol (n = 34) groups, respectively (p = 0.004). The percentages of patients who received morphine titration were 57.1% and 20.6% in the ondansetron and droperidol groups, respectively (p = 0.008). No significant difference was found for PONV.ConclusionsAn interaction between acetaminophen and ondansetron is suggested, with children receiving three times more morphine during pain titration in the recovery room. More studies are necessary to evaluate whether this finding is clinically relevant enough to preclude the simultaneous perioperative administration of both drugs in the future.© 2014 European Pain Federation - EFIC®

This article appears in the collection: Common anesthesia drug interactions.

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