Paracetamol

Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen or APAP, is a medication used to treat pain and fever. It is typically used for mild to moderate pain. Evidence of benefit in fever for children is poor. It is often sold in combination with other ingredients such as in many cold medications. In combination with opioid pain medication, paracetamol is used for more severe pain such as cancer pain and after surgery. It is typically used either by mouth or rectally but is also available intravenously. Effects last between two and four hours.

Paracetamol is generally safe at recommended doses. Serious skin rashes may rarely occur. Too high a dose can result in liver failure. It appears to be safe during pregnancy and when breastfeeding. In those with liver disease, it may still be used but lower doses should be taken. Paracetamol is classified as a mild analgesic. It does not have significant anti-inflammatory activity and how it works is not entirely clear.

Paracetamol was discovered in 1877. It is the most commonly used medication for pain and fever in both the United States and Europe. It is on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, the most important medications needed in a basic health system. Paracetamol is available as a generic medication with trade names including Tylenol and Panadol among others. The wholesale price is less than 0.01 USD per dose. In the United States it costs about 0.05 USD per dose.

Tylenol (brand)

Tylenol /ˈtaɪlənɒl/ is an American brand of drugs advertised for reducing pain, reducing fever, and relieving the symptoms of allergies, cold, cough headache, and influenza. The active ingredient of its original flagship product is paracetamol, an analgesic and antipyretic; it is commonly known in North America as acetaminophen, and elsewhere in the world by its international nonproprietary name, paracetamol. Like the words "acetaminophen" and "paracetamol", the brand name "Tylenol" is derived from the chemical name for the compound, N-aceTYL-para-aminophENOL (APAP). The brand name "Tylenol" is owned by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

Medical uses

The active ingredient in Tylenol is paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, a widely used over-the-counter analgesic (pain reliever) and antipyretic (fever reducer).

1982 Chicago Tylenol murders and first recall

On September 29, 1982, a "Tylenol scare" began when the first of seven individuals died in metropolitan Chicago, after ingesting Extra Strength Tylenol that had been deliberately contaminated with cyanide. Within a week, the company pulled 31 million bottles of tablets back from retailers, making it one of the first major product recalls in American history.

Co-codamol

Codeine/acetaminophen or co-codamol (BAN) is a compound analgesic consisting of a combination of codeine phosphate and paracetamol (acetaminophen). Co-codamol tablets are used for the relief of mild to moderate pain when paracetamol or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen alone do not sufficiently relieve a patient's symptoms, or where their use is ill-advised.

Co-codamol is marketed under various brand names in addition to the generic name.

Formulations

Seven strengths are available: