IV acetaminophen has been approved for use since November 2010
It is indicated for the:
Treatment of mild to moderate pain
Combination therapy with opioids for treatment of moderate to severe pain
Fever reduction
The results of studies demonstrating opoid sparing effects have been mixed; some studies have not demonstrated either a reduction in opioid dose or opioid side effects.
The dose is the same for acetaminophen administered by other routes.
It must be administered over 15 minutes, and onset of activity is 15 minutes. Peak effect occurs at one hour.
The MAJOR drawback is the cost, which is $13 dollars per vial. This is compared to oral acetaminophen and ibuprofen, which are pennies.
References
Pharmacist's letter/Prescriber's letter Detail document #270212. February 2011 72:270212
