Pharmaceutical forms and dosage

Tachipirina suppositories®  is available in pharmacies in different dosages and at different prices , all approved by the Italian Medicines Agency:

• Tachipirina® Prima Infanzia, 125 mg, suppositories, pack of 10 suppositories: 4.30 euros;
• Tachipirina® Neonates, 62.5 mg, suppositories, pack of 10 suppositories: 4.15 euros;
• Tachipirina® Children, 250 mg, suppositories, pack of 10 suppositories: 5 euro;
• Tachipirina® Children, 500 mg, suppositories, pack of 10 suppositories: 5.30 euros;
• Tachipirina® 1000 mg , suppositories, pack of 10 suppositories: 5.55 euros.

Mechanism of action

Tachipirina® belongs to the group of analgesic and antipyretic drugs. Its effect is due to its active principle, paracetamol, which acts directly on the Central Nervous System in particular on the temperature control centres, inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins.

Paracetamol is rapidly absorbed and the maximum concentration occurs in half an hour or an hour. Paracetamol is  metabolised  in the liver and eliminated in the urine. Approximately 90% of the drug is eliminated in approximately 24 hours and the half-life is approximately 2 hours.

How to administer the suppositories?

For children, attention must be paid to the dosage in relation to body weight. The ages shown here with respect to weight are indicative and may vary, in fact each child has his own dose which must be carefully established by the pediatrician.

For the 62.5 mg newborn suppositories in children with body weight ranging between 3.2 and 5 kg or approximately from birth to approximately 3 months, 1 suppository which should be repeated if necessary after approximately 6 hours. Do not exceed 4 doses per day.

For the 125 mg Early Childhood suppositories  in children with a body weight between approximately 6 and 7 kg and aged between approximately 3 and 6 months, 1 suppository to be repeated as needed after approximately 6 hours, without exceeding the 4 administrations in the course of 24 hours.

In children whose body weight ranges between approximately 7 and 10 kg, therefore from 6 months to 18 months, administer 1 suppository to be repeated after 4 or 6 hours if necessary, without exceeding the dose of 5 suppositories per day. from.

In children weighing between about 11 and 12 kg or from 18 to 24 months, 1 suppository to be repeated after about 4 hours if necessary, without exceeding 6 doses per day.

For Children’s Suppositories of 250 mg.  In children weighing from 11 to 12 kg or from 18 to 24 months, 1 suppository to be repeated after about 8 hours if necessary, without exceeding 3 doses per day.

In children weighing between 13 and 20 kg between the ages of 2 and 7, administer 1 suppository to be repeated after 6 hours if necessary, without exceeding 4 doses per day.

For suppositories Children from 500 mg.  In children Who have a body weight between 21 and 25 kg or with an age ranging from 6 to 10 years, 1 suppository to be repeated after 8 hours if needed and without ever exceeding 3 doses per day.

In children whose body weight ranges between 26 and 40 kg, therefore approximately aged between 8 and 13 years, 1 suppository to be repeated after about 6 hours when useful, without exceeding 4 administrations in 24 hours.

For the 1000 mg Adult suppositories in children weighing between 41 and 50 kg, therefore having about 12 to 15 years of age, 1 suppository to be repeated after about 8 hours if necessary, without exceeding 3 drug administrations per day.

In children weighing more than 50 kg or over 15 years of age, administer 1 suppository to be repeated after about 6 hours if useful, without exceeding 4 doses per day.

In adults, administer 1 suppository to be repeated if needed after 6 hours, without exceeding 4 doses per day. For patients with renal insufficiency the interval should be at least 8 hours.

Overdose

With Tachipirina® there may be a risk of intoxication in those patients who are affected by liver disease, in alcoholic subjects, in patients who have developed chronic malnutrition problems and in those who take enzyme-inducing drugs, in the latter case the risk it can even be fatal.

Symptoms of acetaminophen poisoning can result in:

• nausea;
• He retched;
• decline in general health conditions.

Symptoms may appear within about 24 hours of taking the drug. Paracetamol overdose can cause hepatic cytolysis and irreversible massive necrosis, hepatocellular insufficiency, increased levels of transaminases due to liver damage caused. Symptoms can occur 12 to 48 hours after taking the drug.

Intoxication must be treated with hospitalization and with N-acetylcysteine ​​as an antidote. In case of accidental ingestion or intake of a large dose of medicine, it is advisable to notify the nearest hospital.

Contraindications

The intake of the paracetamol contained in Tachipirina®  is contraindicated if the patient has had hypersensitivity to the active ingredient paracetamol or to any of the excipients present in the medicine in the past.

Are there any precautions for use?

Paracetamol should be administered with particular caution in patients with hepatic insufficiency or other liver dysfunction.

Patients being treated with medicines that modify liver function and who have a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency or who have haemolytic anemia problems, should take the drug with great caution and under strict medical supervision.

In case of need for prolonged use of the drug, attention must be paid to liver function as well as renal function and the main blood values ​​must also be monitored.

Patients suffering from eating disorders and in severely dehydrated patients the drug should be administered with great caution.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

At the moment there are no studies that report the presence of dangerous side effects in pregnant women , indeed paracetamol is one of the few drugs considered safe in pregnancy. No harmful effects on the fetus or foetotoxic effects have been identified.

Although the danger has not been demonstrated at the moment, paracetamol must be used during pregnancy only under medical supervision.

Paracetamol passes in small amounts into milk and can cause rashes in breastfed infants. Despite this, paracetamol is still considered compatible with breastfeeding, provided it is used with the utmost caution.

Interactions with other drugs

Paracetamol may have interactions with other medicines that it is essential to know about them before starting the administration as it may be necessary to interrupt other pharmaceutical therapies.

If you are taking or will need to take any other drug together with Tachipirina suppositories®, it is advisable to notify your doctor or pharmacist. For example, some interactions are as follows.

Cholestyramine could cause impaired absorption of paracetamol and the intake of paracetamol together with chloramphenicol could cause an increase in the half-life of chloramphenicol and lead to toxicity. Taking paracetamol together with anticoagulant drugs can cause changes in INR values .

In addition, caution should also be exercised in patients taking the following drugs: hepatic enzyme inducers, rifampicin, cimetidine, antiepileptics.

Side effects

As with any other drug, side effects for the patient are connected to the use of Tachipirina suppositories® . Side effects should be taken into account before taking the drug.

The frequency of the listed side effects is not currently known. The drug can cause among the side effects: leukopenia, immune system disorders, agranulocytosis, anemia, hypersensitivity, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, Stevens Johnson syndrome, erythema, abnormal liver function, rash, hepatitis, hematuria and anuria, kidney problems .

Specific reviews:

• Tachipirina® Suppositories 250 mg