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The potential interaction between oral anticoagulants and acetaminophen in everyday practice

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Abstract

Objective: The drug–drug interaction between oral anticoagulants (especially warfarin) and acetaminophen has been described, but evidence is conflicting and evidence for a similar interaction between acenocoumarol or phenprocoumon and acetaminophen is limited. Therefore, a study was performed to determine the influence of acetaminophen on oral anticoagulation with acenocoumarol or phenprocoumon in everyday practice.Method: Included were patients from two Dutch anticoagulant clinics who had used oral anticoagulants for at least three months and who started with acetaminophen (case group) or benzodiazepines (control group). Results: Fifty-four patients were included who had a first prescription of acetaminophen in their pharmacy record (during oral anticoagulant use) and twenty patients with a first prescription of a benzodiazepine (during oral anticoagulant use). The INR (International Normalized Ratio) difference before and after acetaminophen use was not statistically significant between the two groups and showed no dose dependency.Conclusion: These data do not demonstrate that acetaminophen, in the dosages used in everyday practice, has a clinically relevant influence on the INR in patients using acenocoumarol or phenprocoumon

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. TweeSteden Hospital and St. Elisabeth Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    P.M.L.A. van den Bemt

  2. Anticoagulant Clinic Leeuwarden, The Netherlands

    L.M. Geven

  3. Groningen University Institute for Drug Exploration (GUIDE), Groningen, The Netherlands

    N.A. Kuitert & A. Risselada

  4. Groningen University Institute for Drug Exploration (GUIDE),Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Policy, State University of Groningen, The Netherlands

    J.R.B.J. Brouwers

Authors
  1. P.M.L.A. van den Bemt
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  2. L.M. Geven
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  3. N.A. Kuitert
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  4. A. Risselada
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  5. J.R.B.J. Brouwers
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Correspondence to P.M.L.A. van den Bemt.

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van den Bemt, P., Geven, L., Kuitert, N. et al. The potential interaction between oral anticoagulants and acetaminophen in everyday practice. Pharm World Sci 24, 201–204 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020555321857

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020555321857

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