Paracetamol (called acetaminophen in the USA) is a derivative of p-aminophenol, which corresponds to the active principal metabolite phenacetin. Its mechanism of action is not clearly established. It appears that paracetamol inhibits prostaglandin biosynthesis in the central nervous system but not (or hardly) in the peripheral tissues. In any case, paracetamol only has minimal anti-inflammatory action compared to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents.

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