“Today I’m wishing for happiness, peace and paracetamol. Happiness to get rid of my sadness and heartbreak, peace so I don't have to hate people. And paracetamol for my headache and pain.” ~ Unknown
Paracetamol, explains Dr Mary Cardosa, is one of the most widely used medicines. It is used for treating mild-to-moderate pain as well as reducing fever among many different groups of patients, including children, expectant mothers and the elderly.
In addition to the familiar paracetamol tablets, it is also available in the form of capsules, liquids and even injections.
How paracetamol relieves pain
Pain arises when the affected area of our body releases prostaglandins, which then stimulate the nerves in the affected area to signal to the brain that we are hurting.
We don’t really know yet the exact mechanism of paracetamol, but it most likely blocks the production of these prostaglandins, therefore reducing the intensity of the pain.
But is it safe to use?
Dr Cardosa explains that paracetamol is very well tolerated by many people, with a low rate of side effects. It is also generally safe to be used by people with existing conditions such as stomach problems, heart conditions and high blood pressure, as well as by pregnant women, young children (over 2 months old) and the elderly.
Wait, are you sure? I’ve heard many stories about side effects and toxicity…
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