Paracetamol has been in use as an analgesic for home medication for over 30 years and is accepted as a very effective treatment for the relief of pain and fever in adults and children. Paracetamol is also known as acetaminophen

Widely Used Pain Killer Medication: Paracetamol relieves pain and fever in adults and children, and it is the most widely accepted medicine for this purpose. It is used mainly for its pain relief properties either as a medicine prescribed by a doctor or it can be purchased as an over-the-counter medicine both in retail pharmacies or grocers shops. as an analgesic (pain killer) and an anti-pyretic (temperature lowering) - used alone for mild pain, or in combination with NSAIDs and Opioids for moderate and severe musculo-skeletal pain.

Paracetamol is not of value for reducing inflammation in the treatment of chronic rheumatic diseases as are the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin. Nevertheless, paracetamol does provide useful pain relief and is considered the first line treatment in osteoarthritis.

Paracetamol can be combined with decongestant ingredients to help relieve the symptoms of the common cold, influenza and sinusitis by relieving headache, general aches, nasal congestion and fever.

Paracetamol and its combinations are mainly available as tablets for immediate consumption or for dissolving in water before consumption. It is suitable for all age groups including the very young for whom it may be used following immunisation procedures, and it is available in liquid formulations for young children.

Paracetamol features include:

• Its analgesic (pain relief) and antipyretic (fever relief) effects are comparable to those of aspirin.

• There are virtually no groups of people who should not take it.

• Interactions with other treatments are not a problem.

• At the recommended dosage there are virtually no side-effects.

• It is suitable for small children and the elderly.

• It can be taken by those sensitive to aspirin.

• It is well tolerated by patients with peptic ulcers.