Paracetamol

Paracetamol is a pain-relieving and fever-reducing medicine. It suppresses pain but will usually not remove the cause of the complaints. It is therefore wise to visit the GP or physiotherapist if the complaints persist.

What is paracetamol used for?

Paracetamol can be used on your own initiative to reduce pain. It is important to stop taking paracetamol when the pain has disappeared. Paracetamol is often used for complaints such as muscle soreness, headache, joint pain, osteoarthritis, fever, colds, and back pain.

What are possible side effects of paracetamol?

Although paracetamol is available without a prescription, its use is not entirely without risk. As with other medicines, there is also a chance of side effects with paracetamol. Possible side effects are headache and hypersensitivity. The latter manifests itself as a skin rash, hives, or, in rare cases, shortness of breath. These side effects occur in 1 in 100 people.

With high doses of paracetamol for months or years, there is an increased risk of serious side effects, such as liver damage. Liver damage can be recognised by a yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes. Kidney damage also occurs. Possible signs of this are blood in the urine or fluid retention causing body parts to swell.

In addition, prolonged use of high doses of paracetamol can lead to abnormalities in the blood count. Signs of this are unexplained bruising, sore throat with fever, and extreme fatigue.

In the event of the above symptoms, it is important to stop taking paracetamol immediately and consult the GP.

Where is paracetamol available?

Paracetamol has been on the market since 1893. It is available without a prescription at the supermarket, drugstore, or pharmacy. Paracetamol is available as tablets, powder, liquid, or suppositories. For children, there is special children's paracetamol. This has a lower dose of the active substance than normal paracetamol. Well-known brand names of paracetamol include Sinaspril, Apotel, and Panadol.