Substituting Acetaminophen for Fentanyl Feasible in PCI for STEMI

healio.com August 1, 2020

In patients with STEMI given crushed ticagrelor before PCI, using IV acetaminophen instead of IV fentanyl as a painkiller did not increase pain levels or platelet reactivity and prevented delay of ticagrelor’s effects, researchers reported.

Patients in the acetaminophen group had higher levels of ticagrelor (Brilinta, AstraZeneca) in their system during and after the procedure compared with patients in the fentanyl group, according to the results of the investigator-initiated, randomized, open-label ON-TIME 3 trial that were presented at the virtual PCR e-Course.