Objective

The objective of this activity is to use algebraic representations to build recursive equations that represent the levels of acetaminophen in the body.

Headaches are common concerns for many individuals. There are numerous over-the-counter medications that are available to relieve headaches, including acetaminophen.

It is theorized that acetaminophen blocks an enzyme that sends out chemicals that make our bodies feel pain. Once entering your body, like many other medications, acetaminophen is processed in the liver into harmless substances and removed from your body.

ALT TEXT

Half-Life

The half-life of acetaminophen in healthy young adults is approximately 2.5 hours. This means that it takes about 2.5 hours for the concentrations of acetaminophen to decrease by 50%.

  1. What percent of acetaminophen is removed from the body after 4 hours?
  2. To determine the percent of a substance with a half-life of TT hours remaining after tt hours, we use the formula P=12t/TP=\frac{1}{2}^{t/T}.

    ALT TEXT

    67% of acetaminophen is removed from the body after 4 hours.

  3. What percent of acetaminophen is removed from the body after 6 hours?
  4. ALT TEXT

    81% of acetaminophen is removed from the body after 6 hours.

  5. How long will it take for 99% of the acetaminophen to be removed from the body?
  6. If 99% of the acetaminophen is removed, only 1% remains. To find the time tt, use the Equations app to solve 12t/2.5=0.01\frac{1}{2}^{t/2.5}=0.01.

    ALT TEXT

    ALT TEXT

    ALT TEXT

    It will take 16.6 hours for 99% of acetaminophen to be removed from the body.

Regular and Extra Strength

For a common brand of acetaminophen, one "Regular Strength" capsule contains 100mg of acetaminophen and the "Extra Strength" capsules each contain 500mg of acetaminophen.

  1. To relieve her headache, Ranya decides to take two "Regular Strength" capsules. Write a set of recursive equations that represent the amount of acetaminophen in Ranya's body at the end of each four-hour period.
  2. ALT TEXT

    where n is measured in 4-hour periods.

  3. How much acetaminophen will remain in her system 24 hours after taking the 200mg dose?
  4. To determine the amount of acetaminophen in her body after 24 hours, we look at u6u_{6}.

    ALT TEXT

    Since u6=0.258u_{6}=0.258, she will only have 0.258 mg of acetaminophen left in her body.

  5. Ehab prefers to take two "Extra Strength" capsules. Write a set of recursive equations that represent the amount of acetaminophen in Ehab's body at the end of each four-hour period.
  6. ALT TEXT

    where n is measured in 4-hour periods.

  7. How much acetaminophen will remain in his system 24 hours after taking the 1000mg dose?
  8. To determine the amount of acetaminophen in his body after 24 hours, we look at v6v_{6}.

    ALT TEXT

    Since v6=1.291v_{6}=1.291, he will only have 1.291 mg of acetaminophen left in his body.

Therapeutic Level

The therapeutic level of a drug in the bloodstream is the range within which that drug is expected to be effective. Acetaminophen has a therapeutic level of 10-20μ\mug/mL.

  1. The adult human body has appoximately 5L of blood. Determine the amount of acetaminophen needed in the body to feel the effects.
  2. To determine the amount of acetaminophen needed, we multiply the amount of blood in the body by the lower and upper values of the therapeutic level range.

    ALT TEXT

    The acetaminophen is effective when 50-100mg are in the body.

  3. Approximately how long will Ranya's "Regular Strength" medication be effective? How much longer will Ehab's "Extra Strength" medication be effective?
  4. Once the amount of acetaminophen drops below 50mg, the medication is no longer effective. For Ranya's "Regular Strength" medication, this occurs between n = 2 and n = 3. Therefore the medication is no longer effective sometime between 8 and 12 hours. Ehab's "Extra Strength" medication drops below 50mg between n = 3 and n = 4. Therefore his medication is effective for approxmiately 4 hours longer than Ranya's.

    ALT TEXT

Continued Use

Both medications recommend taking two capsules every 6 hours.

  1. If Ranya takes an additional 200mg every six hours after her initial dose, write a set of recursive equations that represent the amount of acetaminophen in her body at the end of each six-hour period.
  2. ALT TEXT

    where n is measured in 6-hour periods.

  3. How much acetaminophen will remain in her system 24 hours after taking the initial 200mg dose? 48 hours? 72 hours?
  4. To determine the amount of acetaminophen in her body after 24 hours, we look at u4u_{4}.

    ALT TEXT

    Since u4=246.85u_{4}=246.85, she will only have 246.85 mg of acetaminophen left in her body.

    Similarly, to determine the amount of acetaminophen in her body after 48 and 72 hours, we look at u8u_{8} and u12u_{12}

    ALT TEXT

    ALT TEXT

    We see that we have reached an equilibrium value of approximately 246.91 mg.

  5. If Ehab takes an additional 1000mg every six hours after his initial dose, write a set of recursive equations that represent the amount of acetaminophen in his body at the end of each six-hour period.
  6. ALT TEXT

    where n is measured in 6-hour periods.

  7. How much acetaminophen will remain in his system 24 hours after taking the initial 1000mg dose? 48 hours? 72 hours?
  8. To determine the amount of acetaminophen in his body after 24 hours, we look at v4v_{4}.

    ALT TEXT

    Since v4=1234.26v_{4}=1234.26, he will only have 1234.26 mg of acetaminophen left in his body.

    Similarly, to determine the amount of acetaminophen in his body after 48 and 72 hours, we look at v8v_{8} and v12v_{12}

    ALT TEXT

    ALT TEXT

    We see that we have reached an equilibrium value of approximately 1234.57 mg.


For more information on acetaminophen safety: