By Ashabi
Paracetamol is a common medicine for mild and moderate pain. It is a sure drug for easing pain after a long day of intellectual and physical activities. It makes the task of being a student a bit bearable. Two tablets of paracetamol, a few minutes of rest and you are ready to spend your night doing TDB in preparation for a test the next morning.
It is such a common and effective drug that there are different narratives both true and false about it. It’s important to know the correct information about these white pills that have come to our rescue countless times. These facts are crucial to our health and will aid optimum and effective use of paracetamol.
1- Overdosing on paracetamol can lead to liver and kidney damage - Paracetamol, like all good things, is prone to being overused, unlike other good things overusing it can be harmful to your health.
After a full day of sitting in class for hours and walking around school helter-skelter, two paracetamols probably wouldn’t take away the pain for long enough. Body no be firewood! Three hours into your TDB, another 2 tablets have been flushed down your throat. By morning, you take another 2, in the afternoon, another 2 tablets and in the night again, another 2. According to Health direct, ‘adults shouldn’t take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours’ and ‘you must wait at least 4 hours between doses’. Apart from liver and kidney damage, misuse can lead to’ tiredness, breathlessness, Anaemia’(Alcohol and Drug Foundation). Remember, health is wealth.
Note: Taking paracetamol with other medicines that contain paracetamol can lead to paracetamol overdose. For instance, some cough and cold remedies contain paracetamol.
2- ‘It’s safe to take paracetamol regularly for many years as long as you do not take more than the recommended dose’(National Health Service).
3- Contrary to popular belief that paracetamol shouldn’t be taken on an empty stomach, paracetamol can in fact be taken on an empty stomach. ‘Ibuprofen, aspirin and other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can irritate the stomach lining, so it is best to take them with food, or a glass of milk. Paracetamol doesn’t irritate the stomach lining so it won’t matter if you haven’t eaten’( British heart foundation).
4- ‘Paracetamol begins to ease pain and lower a high temperature about 30 minutes after a dose is taken. Its effects usually last for about 4 to 6 hours’(Healthdirect).
5- According to the NHS, ‘it is safe to take paracetamol with other types of painkiller that do not contain paracetamol, such as ibuprofen, aspirin or codeine.’
6- ‘Paracetamol is usually best for most types of pain, including headaches and stomach ache. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory drug effective for inflammation-related pain like period pain or toothache. Some people find ibuprofen better than paracetamol for back pain’(NHS, First aid pro).
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