Paracetamol topped the trends last Monday night following the limited and shortage supply of the said medicine at the drugstores during this flu season that hit as COVID-19 cases are also spiking. But what is it in Paracetamol that many people these days are going to drugstores taking the long line just to buy a Paracetamol? What is the real score of it?
Paracetamol (acetaminophen or APAP) is a pain reliever and a fever reducer. It is used to treat many conditions such as headache, muscle aches, arthritis, backache, toothaches, colds, and fevers. It also relieves pain in mild arthritis but has no effect on the underlying inflammation and swelling of the joint.
There are many brands and forms of paracetamol available in the drugstores but do not use more of this medication than is recommended. An overdose of paracetamol can cause serious harm to our health. The usual recommended dose of paracetamol for adults is 1 (500mg) tablet every 4 hours or 2 (500mg) tablets every 6 hours as needed for pain and/or fever. Don’t exceed a maximum of 8 tablets or 4,000mg Paracetamol in each 24-hour period.
Use paracetamol exactly as directed on the medicine label, or as prescribed by the doctor. Do not use any other over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, or pain medication without consulting your doctor or reading the label because Paracetamol is contained in many combination medicines. If you use certain products together you may accidentally use too much Paracetamol, and you might overdose yourself. Avoid unintentional misuse of medicines because it could be risky to the liver, especially if severely malnourished. Avoid drinking alcohol when taking any paracetamol. Do not take paracetamol continuously for more than 5 days. Also, always consult your doctor, buy from trusted drugstores and retailers, and take note of the expiration date.
Do not take this medicine or other medicine without knowing its content, for what, how to use it, and especially its dosage. For suspected undesirable drug reactions, seek medical attention immediately.
“It’s better to know even a few than knowing nothing.”
AA VI Angelyn P. IntaL, RND
References:
- WebMD. Paracetamol Tablet – Uses, Side Effects, and More. website: https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-57595/paracetamol-oral/details
- Drugs.com. Paracetamol. website: https://www.drugs.com/paracetamol.html
- UNILAB. Article: Do’s and Don’ts When Taking Paracetamol. website: https://www.unilab.com.ph/articles/dos-and-donts-when-taking-paracetamol
