For mild to moderate pain, how should acetaminophen be administered?

For mild to moderate pain, how should acetaminophen be administered?

• A. PO
• B. IM
• C. IV/IO
• D. Subcutaneous

Answer: (C)

For mild to moderate pain, acetaminophen is best given by mouth because it’s reliably absorbed through the digestive tract, provides effective relief, and is easy to dose safely. The typical adult dose is 325–1000 mg every 4–6 hours, not to exceed about 4000 mg in 24 hours. The IV/IO route is reserved for situations where oral intake isn’t possible or a faster onset is needed (such as in hospital settings or when rapid analgesia is required), not for routine mild to moderate pain in most EMS scenarios. Subcutaneous and IM routes aren’t standard ways to administer acetaminophen. So, the usual first choice for mild to moderate pain is oral administration when possible.

For mild to moderate pain, acetaminophen is best given by mouth because it’s reliably absorbed through the digestive tract, provides effective relief, and is easy to dose safely. The typical adult dose is 325–1000 mg every 4–6 hours, not to exceed about 4000 mg in 24 hours. The IV/IO route is reserved for situations where oral intake isn’t possible or a faster onset is needed (such as in hospital settings or when rapid analgesia is required), not for routine mild to moderate pain in most EMS scenarios. Subcutaneous and IM routes aren’t standard ways to administer acetaminophen. So, the usual first choice for mild to moderate pain is oral administration when possible.