Absorption kinetics of paracetamol are not influenced by high anxiety levels in preoperative patients.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: If the absorption kinetics of orally administered drugs in preoperative patients are influenced by high anxiety levels as maintained by Simpson and Stakes [1987], then this aspect would have to be taken into consideration in the preparation for surgery and would make dose adjustments necessary in such patients. METHODS: We differentiated and quantified the anxiety level in 40 patients, 4 - 5 hours prior to an operation, using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Subsequently, all patients were given 1000 mg of paracetamol and serum levels were analyzed by means of HPLC. RESULTS: Over the first 3 hours after application there were no significant differences in the parameters C(max) and t(max) between patients with high levels of anxiety and patients with low levels of anxiety. However, AUC (area under curve) values were slightly higher in patients with high levels of anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: No clinically relevant differences in absorption parameters were observed in patients with high and low levels of anxiety.