A 68-year-old female presents to the clinic with complaints…
A 68-year-old female presents to the clinic with complaints of chronic knee pain exacerbated by movement and weight-bearing activities. She reports a history of osteoarthritis (OA) and states that she has been using acetaminophen as needed for pain relief. Recent evidence indicates that acetaminophen monotherapy is ineffective or only modestly better than placebo for long-term OA treatment in most individuals. However, acetaminophen is still considered appropriate for short-term or episodic use in individuals who cannot tolerate or have contraindications to NSAID use. How should the nurse practitioner advise the patient regarding the use of acetaminophen for her OA pain?