Picture this: it’s the weekend, you’ve planned out your whole day, but you’ve got a raging headache. What do you do? Do you put your schedule on hold? Or do you try to tough it out? Or maybe you might take something to alleviate your headache?
There are several solutions for a headache; paracetamol is one of the most common options available. It’s a painkilling pharmaceutical drug that is available over the counter. It’s used for a variety of different ailments. Keep reading to learn more about it.
Paracetamol Defined
Paracetamol is an extremely popular painkiller that can be used to alleviate lots of conditions. For instance, the drug can be used to treat headaches of all kinds, such as tension headaches and migraines. Paracetamol can also be used for fevers, flu, and colds.
You can consume paracetamol in a variety of different ways. For example, it can be taken in a tablet, pill, capsule, liquid, suppository, and even soluble powder. The easiest way is to simply swallow a capsule. It is easily bought over the counter at any pharmacy.
The Dangers of Paracetamol
Paracetamol is no different than any other drug: if it’s overused or overdosed, it can be hazardous to one’s health. In fact, paracetamol has been known to be used as a self-harm drug. You have to be careful when using it.
Side Effects to Look Out For When Using Paracetamol
So, yes, paracetamol can be dangerous when overused or overdosed. So, what side effects can this cause? The most common ones are feelings of fatigue, as well as drowsiness. The skin can also rash, causing itchiness.
Long term usage of paracetamol can also have dire health consequences. Damage can occur to the liver and kidney. Poor blood flow can arise, primarily due to weak red blood cell count. This can leave individuals feeling tired chronically, and always out of breath.
When it comes to the short term, overdose is a serious issue. Extremely large dosages of paracetamol can actually cause death. Although it’s unlikely to happen; more common are seizures. Typically speaking, vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain are standard side effects.
When someone does die from an overdose, it’s because of their liver failure. This is a process that can take around 3 and a half weeks.
Paracetamol Mechanism of Action
So, how does paracetamol work? What is its mechanism of action? Well, the truth is that we don’t really know. Scientists have failed to find a clear answer to this question. The drug reduces pain, but it’s not clearly understood why.
The conventional explanation is that pain signals are numbed due to using paracetamol. That’s the best answer we have, but even that’s not scientifically backed.
Paracetamol Uses
What can you use paracetamol for? It can be used for all types of headaches. If you have a tension headache, it can be used to remedy that. It can also be used for migraines. If you’re ill with a cold, flu, or fever, you can use it; infant paracetamol nz is used by mothers for fevers, as an example.