Feeling Sick?

                    

                            Paracetamol (Acetaminophen):

Figure 1: Tylenol containing Acetaminophen 

Source: Mozart, M. (2014). Tylenol. https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeepersmedia/15939073997 (Accessed February 20, 2018). 

                                                 Doesn't this look familiar? TYLENOL!!

   
                                     "Doctor, I have a fever." → First try taking some Tylenol!

                       "Doctor, I have a headache."  → First try taking some Tylenol!

                   "Doctor, I'm in pain, what to do?" → First try taking some Tylenol! 

Tylenol contains acetaminophen.

What is it?
Acetaminophen is a substance that is used to treat pain, and reduce sickness.3 It is a non-prescription drug, that is widely distributed and available.1

What is it used for?

To relieve and to treat:

• Fevers¹
• Headaches¹
• Pain¹

Used in: 

• Cold and flu medications³
• Cough suppressant medications³
• Allergy medications³
• Stabilization of hydrogen peroxide containing solutions³
• Production of photographic chemicals³

Use or not use?

- Paracetamol is not an anti-inflammatory drug; therefore, it cannot be used for treatment of inflammation like ibuprofen¹

- If quantities consumed are higher than the recommended dose, harmful effects may occur, which can include an overdose, acute liver injury/death, etc¹ 

- However, when used in the specified quantities that are listed, NO harm is caused

MYTHS:

1. Paracetamol stays in the liver for 7 years?

False: Paracetamol naturally leaves your body within 24 hours after consumption. It is completely digested. Remaining there for 7 years? Haha, that’s funny.²  

2. Paracetamol's effects stop working if too much is consumed?

False: There is no evidence that shows that individuals can become so used to consuming paracetamol, that it effects wear off. Nice try but building such a high tolerance isn’t that easy!²

Feeling sick, begin with Paracetamol! Don't believe the myths, Acetaminophen is safe to consume! There is a reason as to why it's widely distributed, and consumed across the world. 

References: 

1.     National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database; CID =1983, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/acetaminophen#section=Top

(accessed February 20, 2018)

2.     Pan, S. (2017). 5 Things “They All” Say About Paracetamol That Singaporeans Grew Up Believing. http://thesmartlocal.com/read/paracetamol-myths (accessed February 20, 2018)

3.     Schlager, N., Weisblatt, J., Newton, D. (2006). Acetaminophen. Chemical Compounds, (vol. 1) pp. 19-22. http://go.galegroup.com.libproxy.mtroyal.ca/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T003&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&currentPosition=1&docId=GALE%7CCX3441700013&docType=Drug+overview&sort=RELEVANCE&contentSegment=&prodId=GVRL&contentSet=GALE%7CCX3441700013&searchId=R1&userGroupName=mtroyalc&inPS=true&authCount=1&u=mtroyalc (accessed February 20, 2018)