Green Pages
Medicines
paracetamol
(acetaminophen)
Paracetamol is used to ease pain and
lower fever.
Important: Paracetamol does not cure
sickness, it only eases pain or fever. It is
important to find the cause of the pain
and fever and treat that.
Often comes in: tablets of 100, 325,
and 500 mg; liquid of 120 and 160 ml
per 5 ml.
How to use:
Take 500 to 1000 mg by mouth every
4 to 6 hours. Do not take more than
4000 mg of paracetamol in 24 hours.
Other drugs that may work:
Aspirin or ibuprofen may work, but do
not use either during pregnancy.
WARNING: Paracetamol should
not be used by women with
liver or kidney problems. It can
cause liver damage if taken
regularly every day, or if it is used
after drinking alcohol. Do not
take more than 4000 mg a day
and do not combine with other
medicines that contain
paracetamol.
procaine penicillin
(benzylpenicillin procaine, PAM)
Procaine penicillin is a medium- to
long-lasting antibiotic of the penicillin
family used to treat womb and other
infections.
Important: When taken with
probenecid, the amount of penicillin in
the blood increases and lasts longer,
making the treatment more effective.
Be ready to treat for allergic reaction
(see p. 465).
Side effects: May cause yeast infection
in women or diaper rash in children.
Often comes in: vials for injection of
300,000 and 400,000 and 600,000 Units;
powder for mixing injections where
1 gram = 1 million Units.
How to use:
For serious infection during labor (see
p. 179), inject 1.2 million Units in the
muscle. Repeat after 12 hours if needed.
Other drugs that may work: ampicillin,
benzylpenicillin.
WARNING: Procaine penicillin
can cause asthma attacks in
people who have asthma.
Never use this drug with
tetracycline.
Do not give procaine penicillin
to someone who is allergic to
antibiotics in the penicillin
family.
A Book for Midwives (2010)
487