Paracetamol is a para aminophenol derivative, has analgesic and antipyretic properties with weak anti-inflammatory activity. Paracetamol is one of the most widely used, safest and fast acting analgesic. It is well tolerated and free from various side effects of aspirin.
Everyone is familiar with the name paracetamol. And almost everyone knows it is used to cure fever. Many may not know how paracetamol cures our fever. There is a point here, before we know how to cure fever, we need to know a little bit about what fever really is. When a disease germ enters our body, our body takes some action against that germ. First, our body secretes a substance called pyrogen to kill the germ. The germs continue to do this until the germs are sufficiently damaged. But the problem is that a substance called pyrogen can greatly increase our body temperature. And rising body temperature means fever. That means fever is not a disease. Just a symptom of the disease.
Here is how paracetamol cures our fever. Everything in our body is controlled by the brain. The Heat Regulation Center is located in a place called the hypothalamus in our brain. And this center determines whether our body temperature rises or falls. When we take paracetamol it works in our heat regulation center, and lowers body temperature.
Paracetamol is a generic name and various pharmaceutical companies manufacture and market paracetamol under various names of their choice, these names are called 'brand names'.
It can be taken up to a maximum of 4000 mg (4 g) daily. It is usually marketed in the form of 500 mg tablets or caplets. The maximum rate for an adult is 1000 mg (1 g) per bar. Paracetamol is an over-the-counter medicine that can be bought without a prescription. So many people take paracetamol from time to time, with minor symptoms. Although usually without side effects, overuse is harmful to the liver. It can even cause liver cirrhosis. People who are allergic or sensitive to acetaminophen should not take this medicine. If you have kidney problems or are addicted to drugs, you should not take paracetamol without consulting a doctor.
It is available in tablet, syrup, suspension and suppository forms. In many cases paracetamol tablets are prepared by mixing caffeine with paracetamol. This increases the analgesic action, which means it works faster to cure pain.
Common side effects of paracetamol include nausea and lower abdominal pain. These side effects are mainly due to the short duration of taking paracetamol. Long-term use of paracetamol can lower blood hemoglobin.
Patients who have taken barbiturates, tricyclic antidepressants and alcohol may show diminished ability to metabolise large doses of Paracetamol. Alcohol can increase the hepatotoxicity of Paracetamol overdosage. Chronic ingestion of anticonvulsants or oral steroid contraceptives induce liver enzymes and may prevent attainment of therapeutic Paracetamol levels by increasing first-pass metabolism or clearance.
A doctor should be consulted before taking any medicine. Before buying paracetamol-type drugs, you must read the prescription. Each medicine packet contains the name and quantity of its ingredients. Avoid drugs containing paracetamol and D-L methionine.
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