Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 9, 2026

Propacetamol

Propacetamol is a prodrug form of paracetamol which is formed from esterification of paracetamol, and the carboxylic acid diethylglycine. This has the advantage of making it more water-soluble. It is used in post-operative care and is delivered by I.V. It is given if the patient is unable to take oral or rectally delivered paracetamol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are contraindicated. The onset of analgesia from propacetamol is more rapid than paracetamol given orally. 2 grams of propacetamol are equivalent to 1g of paracetamol.

Last revised
Jul 9, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
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Citations
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Source
Wikipedia ↗
Propacetamol
Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.comInternational Drug Names
Routes of
administration		IV12
ATC code
Pharmacokinetic data
Elimination half-life2.4 hours 1
ExcretionRenal
Identifiers
  • 4-(acetamido)phenyl N,N-diethylglycinate
CAS Number
PubChem CID
ChemSpider
UNII
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.060.336
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC14H20N2O3
Molar mass264.325 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • CCN(CC)CC(=O)OC1=CC=C(C=C1)NC(=O)C
  • InChI=1S/C14H20N2O3/c1-4-16(5-2)10-14(18)19-13-8-6-12(7-9-13)15-11(3)17/h6-9H,4-5,10H2,1-3H3,(H,15,17)
  • Key:QTGAJCQTLIRCFL-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  (verify)

Propacetamol is a prodrug form of paracetamol which is formed from esterification of paracetamol, and the carboxylic acid diethylglycine. This has the advantage of making it more water-soluble. It is used in post-operative care and is delivered by I.V.2 It is given if the patient is unable to take oral or rectally delivered paracetamol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are contraindicated. The onset of analgesia from propacetamol is more rapid than paracetamol given orally.3 2 grams of propacetamol are equivalent to 1g of paracetamol.4

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Bannwarth B, Netter P, Lapicque F, Gillet P, Péré P, Boccard E, Royer RJ, Gaucher A (1992). "Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of paracetamol after a single intravenous dose of propacetamol". British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 34 (1): 79–81. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.1992.tb04112.x. PMC 1381380. PMID 1633071.
  2. Binhas M, Decailliot F, Rezaiguia-Delclaux S, Suen P, Dumerat M, François V, Combes X, Duvaldestin P (2004). "Comparative effect of intraoperative propacetamol versus placebo on morphine consumption after elective reduction mammoplasty under remifentanil-based anesthesia: a randomized control trial [ISRCTN71723173]". BMC Anesthesiology. 4 (1): 6. doi:10.1186/1471-2253-4-6. PMC 520811. PMID 15367329.
  3. Moller PL, Sindet-Pedersen S, Petersen CT, Juhl GI, Dillenschneider A, Skoglund LA (2005). "Onset of acetaminophen analgesia: comparison of oral and intravenous routes after third molar surgery". British Journal of Anaesthesiology. 94 (5): 642–648. doi:10.1093/bja/aei109. PMID 15790675.
  4. Flouvat B, Leneveu A, Fitoussi S, Delhotal-Landes B, Gendron A (2004). "Bioequivalence study comparing a new paracetamol solution for injection and propacetamol after single intravenous infusion in healthy subjects". International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 42 (1): 50–57. doi:10.5414/cpp42050. PMID 14756388.